10 April 2004	Saturday	19 Safar 1425

KARACHI, April 9: Treasury benches in the Sindh Assembly on Friday defeated, on technical grounds, the opposition's bid to discuss the issue of NFC award during the ongoing session requisitioned to discuss MPA Abdullah Murad's killing.

When the session started, one hour and 10 minutes late, with Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah in the chair, opposition leader in the house Nisar Khuhro sought permission to move a resolution on NFC award by suspending other matters under Rule 211 of the Rules of Procedure.

Mr Khuhro had contended in the resolution that the forthcoming NFC award should be in accordance with the unanimous resolution adopted by this assembly on March 30, 2003 and that if the award fell short of the assembly's stand, the Sindh government should reject the same.

Minister for Law Chaudhry Iftekhar Ahmad argued that under Rule 74, a three-day notice was required and since that was not the case, the resolution could not be tabled.

Minister for Auqaf Irfan Gul Magsi called for completing the discussion on Mr Murad's killing as the session was requisitioned for the issue. Minister for Finance Syed Sardar Ahmad opposed a discussion on the resolution, saying that NFC award had not been announced as yet and that the resolution was based on mere presumptions.

The speaker ruled that as the opposition had requisitioned the session on a one-point agenda, i.e. killing of Abdullah Murad, therefore, until the discussion on that agenda was over, no other motion or resolution could be moved.

At this point, Syed Murad Ali Shah of PPP tried to seek his indulgence but the speaker asked him to resume his seat. Jam Saifullah Dharejo of PPP asked the speaker to let others speak also. But the speaker called for a short break after taking serious notice of Mr Dharejo's remarks.

When the proceedings resumed, Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah observed that if any remarks were passed against him (the speaker), he would adjourn the session. Syed Qaim Ali Shah of PPP reminded the speaker about one of his rulings and recalled that the unanimous resolution on NFC award had been presented and adopted in the house by suspending consideration of the agenda of the requisitioned session.

The speaker observed that the member was quoting a wrong ruling and asked Mr Shah to show it to him. The PPP leader promised to do so when the assembly resumed session.

However, the Speaker asked the house to decided whether Mr Khuhro should be allowed to table the resolution and the rules be suspended to facilitate the move. A total of 54 members supported Mr Khuhro's contention and 69 members of treasury benches voted against it. The opposition's move was, thus, defeated on technical grounds, though providing it some moral boost.

At the very outset, the speaker took notice of members' late arrival in the house and warned that he would prorogue the session if they failed to come on time. Mr Nisar Khuhro pointed out that opposition members were sitting in the house since 9.30am but the speaker said the quorum was not complete. He pointed out that every day, time was wasted in shouting and hurling accusations at each other.