KARACHI, Nov 6: The Sindh Assembly meets here on Friday amid tension between the treasury and opposition benches particularly over water issue, fall out of the recently concluded local bodies elections for the vacant posts of Nazim and Naib Nazims and the government’s plan to introduce new laws for the religious seminaries.

The session has been called by the government and Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah has notified business until Nov 21.

The 15-point order of the day for Friday includes announcement by the Speaker that the governor has given his assent to the Sindh (Prohibition of taking minerals including Reti (sand) and Bajri from any land) Bill 2003. There was lot of fuss on this issue during the previous session which was requisitioned by the opposition.

The Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education Ordinance 2003 has also been included in the day’s agenda despite Friday being a relatively short working day.

Introduction of a bill to provide for the establishment of the institute of business and technology at Karachi and consideration of a government bill to provide for the regularization of the services of certain contractual doctors, as contemplated under Rule 64 of the Rules of Procedure of the provincial assembly, is also on the card.

Presentation of a special committee’s report on Bill No.2 of 2003 for the eradication of the menace of involuntary donation (forced chanda) in the province is also part of the agenda besides a government resolution regarding legislation on protection of plant breeders’ rights.

Election of one member for the standing committee on local government department, and nomination of two members for the Railway Advisory Committee, Karachi, for a period of three years have been included in the order of the day.

Leader of the opposition in Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro said the opposition would formulate its strategy and play its role in voicing concern over problems concerning people.

He said that the questions to be raised during the session included complaints regarding non-payment of compensation to many rain and flood affected families in Thatta and Badin, grievances of sugarcane growers, and killing of two persons — Shazia and Hassan Khaskheli — on the decree by a Jirga.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Sardar Ali Muhammad Khan Mahar on Thursday presided over a meeting of the parliamentary party of the Sindh coalition government to prepare a strategy on different issues of the Sindh Assembly session, scheduled to be commenced from tomorrow, adds PPI.

Addressing the meeting, the chief minister urged the MPAs of the coalition parties to practically demonstrate mutual discipline and unity.

He asked them to follow the timing of the session to be opened at 9am and said that the ministers should represent their respective departments according to the agenda of the session.

“Our priority is public welfare, and we hope that the opposition members will participate in the proceedings in a positive manner and cooperate to resolve the problems of the masses,” said the chief minister.