HYDERABAD, Sept 12: The district council session on Friday accorded approval to the district Nazim’s proposal to re-appropriate funds in lieu of lapsed funds of the Annual Development Programme 2002-2003, following a rumpus in the session.

The presiding officer, Miran Mohammad Shah, was unable to handle the session which erupted into an uproar after Mohammad Yousuf Qureshi termed the session unlawful on the ground that it does not fulfil requirements of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2001 and Conduct of Business Rules.

Convener Nawab Rashid Ali Khan had called the session on the request of District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman as the latter intended to seek approval for re-appropriation of funds of different heads to be released for execution of development schemes that were in fact to be carried out from funds of the ADP, i.e. Rs140 million.

As soon as the district Nazim tried to seek approval, Mr Qureshi rose on a point of order to contest the validity of the session as per section 3(6) of Conduct of Business Rules, which envisaged that a list of the agenda must be provided to members when a session is called.

He said that the members were not provided a copy of any agenda or details of the district Nazim’s speech, which he intended to deliver.

Several times he left his seat to stage a walkout but some of the members always brought him back.

He said that the members must be informed as to from which heads funds were being re-appropriated and for what purpose.

At this point of time some members started raising slogans of “manzoor”, while some opposed it.

The situation turned explosive when Shafqat Soho headed towards Qayyum Sheikh in quite a threatening posture as the latter was supporting Qureshi’s argument.

There was total chaos before some members intervened and brought the situation under control, whereas the presiding officer kept calling for decorum.

Sanity prevailed in the session when Mr Sheikh and Mr Soho hugged one another.

Mr Hakim presented a resolution, which was read by Tanvir Siddiqui, seeking funds from other heads of accounts for execution of ADP schemes.