KARACHI: Opposition’s campaign on sugarcane price defused
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, Feb 3: An adjournment motion, moved during the Monday’s session of the Sindh Assembly by Jam Madad Ali from the treasury benches and pertaining to the grievances of sugarcane growers in Sindh, was not pressed by the mover after the House was assured payment of Rs43 per 40kg to the growers.
The opposition had earlier taken up the issue forcefully citing public outrage over the unreasonable prices offered to the growers.
When the matter was taken up by the Speaker, Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah on Monday, Senior Minister Syed Sardar Ahmed referred to his earlier statement and stated that the government has fixed the rate of Rs43.00 per 40kg and that the millers had also agreed to pay the same rates to the growers. He, however, clarified that certain mills in Khairpur and Nawabshah districts would make the payment at the rate of Rs40.00 now and the difference at the rate of Rs3 in the next two or three months.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah of the Peoples Party Parliamentarians raised the question as to who would guarantee the payment of arrears to the growers. The minister explained that an agreement on the new rate was reached at a meeting which was attended by the representatives of millers, growers, Chamber of Agriculture and other concerned and there was a consensus among all those present.
The Leader of the Opposition, Nisar Khuhro, drew the Speaker’s attention to the situation in Sukkur and Khairpur districts where, he said, sugar mills were closed. He said that he saw long queues of vehicles loaded with sugarcane but there was no buyer.
Mr Khuhro, not satisfied with the senior minister’s assurance, maintained that the situation was deteriorating fast because of the private mill-owners’ adamant attitude.
An MMA legislator, Hameedullah Khan, supported Nisar Khuhro’s contention.
However, when asked by the Speaker, the move did not press the matter.
It appeared that by moving the adjournment motion on this particular issue, the Treasury benches have pre-empted the opposition which was preparing to pursue the case as forcefully on the floor of the House as it had done outside the assembly.
MALAHI’S REMARKS: Mr Khuhro reminded the Speaker to solicit Law Minister Chaudhry Iftikhar’s reply on the question of summoning Hamid Malahi, Coordinator of Punjab Water Council.
The opposition had demanded that Mr Malahi should be called in the House to clarify his position amid controversy over his reported remarks which, according to some MPAs, were seditious. The law minister said that there was no legal provision enabling the House to summon a person belonging to the other province.
He made it clear that his contention should not be regarded as an attempt to protect any individual and proposed that the matter be referred to the privilege committee.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah disagreed with the law minister and said that the statement attracted sedition clause and a notice should be taken of such matters. He said the government should register a case because “this is one Pakistan.” He, nevertheless, agreed to the minister’s proposal that the matter be referred to the privilege committee. The Speaker observed: “Shah saheb has given an excellent proposal.”
BILLS: During the session, two government bills were referred to the special committees.
The bills pertained to the appointment, powers, functions, salaries allowance and privileges of advisors and special assistants to the chief minister.
Presenting the bills, the law minister moved a motion suggesting setting up of a five-member special committee to consider the bills. He proposed three names — Ali Bux Shah alias Papoo Shah, Shoaib Bukhari and Iqbal Qadri advocate for induction in the committees. Nisar Khuhro nominated Haji Munawar Ali Abbasi and Dr Sikandar Mandhro for the committee on the bill pertaining to the appointment of advisors and Dr Sohrab Sarki of PPP and a member of the MMA for the committee dealing with the bills on special assistants.
The Speaker put the motion to the House that allowed formation of committees.
Earlier, during question hour, the Treasury benches parried questions about Forest Department. A Minister, Manzoor Panhwar, a turncoat, informed the House that the questions were received late and that the same would be submitted in next session.
