KARACHI: PA session condemns Pindi blast amid uproar
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, Dec 17: Amid uproar, the Sindh Assembly session was prorogued in a haste by Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah on Wednesday, without concluding debate on law and order and without taking up any item of the day’s agenda.
It was a pathetic display of lack of concern among members over problems affecting general public though the treasury benches appeared keenly interested in getting passed a resolution condemning the Rawalpindi explosion targeted against Gen Pervez Musharraf’s motorcade.
When the session began, very late, majority of the PML and National Alliance members were not present in the House as they are, at present, in Islamabad to lobby against Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar. Their absence was a cause of concern to the treasury benches. The CM himself came to the House briefly for a photo session.
At the very outset, the House adopted a resolution moved jointly by Hameedullah Khan advocate of the MMA and Minister for Education Irfanullah Marwat through which the House paid tributes to Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani.
As soon as Minister for Law Chaudhary Iftekhar Ahmed tried to move a motion to condemn the terrorist attack targeted at Gen Musharraf, the opposition members resisted it with protested. Syed Qaim Ali Shah urged the Speaker to first allow members to speak on the resolution moved to condole the demise of Maulana Noorani. Leader of the opposition Nisar Khuhro persistently opposed the government move.
Speaker repeatedly asked him to resume his seat. He then declared that once the resolution had been adopted, this matter could not be raised again and asked the law minister to move his motion. This led to an uproar and some altercation between Speaker and Maulana Ehsanullah Hazarvi. The Speaker effected a brief adjournment, which became too long.
During the break, the treasury members tried to convince the opposition to let the them move the resolution against Rawalpindi blast first. They assured the opposition that it would then be allowed to speak.
However, the opposition members’ fear that the proceedings would be adjourned following the passage of the resolution could not be removed.
Finally, after an apparent behind the scene understanding, the House resumed post-break proceeding with tributes to Maulana Noorani. Members lauded the late leader’s courageous role in restoring supremacy of the parliament and democratic dispensation and also in the passage of the 1973 Constitution. The opposition members also hailed the Maulana’s struggle against ethnicity and sectarian politics and his moderating role.
They described Maulana Noorani as an important politician who played a crucial role in getting Islamic clauses included in the Constitution and also in getting Ahmedis declared as non-Muslims.
Tributes were also paid to his valuable contribution to the dissemination of Islamic knowledge, especially in non-Muslim countries and converting a large number of people to Islam.
The speakers appreciated his pleasant and civilized behaviour even with ardent opponents.
Nisar Khuhro, Maulana Umar Sadiq, Raoof Siddiqui, Nasrullah Shaji, Irfan Gul Magsi, Abdur Rahman Rajput, Chaudhary Iftekhar Ahmed, Makhdoom Jameeluz Zaman, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Rafiq Engineer, Abdullah Murad and Mohammad Hussain were among those who paid tributes to Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani.
While recounting the Maulana’s services to Islam and Pakistan, Mohammad Hussain of the MQM used some provocative words which were expunged after protest by MMA members.
Soon after the tributes, the government side moved a resolution condemning the terrorist attack against Gen Musharraf. Chaudhary Iftekhar had used the word ‘president’ in the motion to which Mr Khuhro and other opposition members raised objection.
As Mr Khuhro continued to insist on getting the word ‘President’ dropped from the motion, Speaker Muzaffar Hussain Shah asked him to move an amendment. However, Mr Khuhro kept on criticizing the government and its failure in maintaining law and order.
The Speaker’s remarks in the process angered Syed Qaim Ali Shah who demanded that such remarks should be expunged. The Speaker obliged him.
Finally, leader of the opposition verbally moved an amendment which was rejected by a majority vote and the government resolution was adopted.
The Speaker then asked Chaudhary Iftekhar whether he was ready to continue the debate on law and order, he replied in negative. He was also opposed to an extension in time for the deliberations.
