KARACHI, June 16: The Sindh Assembly on Wednesday in its budget sitting witnessed an uproar for about 10 minutes, during the finance minister's speech, followed by a token walkout staged by the opposition.
The opposition first took up the issue of forming a four-member panel of chairmen to preside over the House in absence of speaker and deputy speaker, as the chairperson Dr Hameeda Khuhro had failed to carry out the mandatory requirement and given the floor to Finance Minister Syed Sardar Ahmad soon after the proceedings started.
However, when her attention was drawn towards anomaly, she rectified her mistake by nominating a four-member panel of chairmen to preside over the session. They were Rajweer Singh, Muhammad Hussain, Aslam Pervez and Dr Sikander Mandhro.
Opposition then staged a token walkout saying that the budget was being presented without NFC Award resulting in huge losses to the province. However, after the opposition benches resumed their seats, rest of the speech of Finance Minister Syed Sardar Ahmad had an easy sailing.
After budget speech was over, leader of the opposition, Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, demanded of the chief minister to seek apologyfor accusing opposition of being involved in attack on the motorcade of Corps Commander.
Responding to the leader of the opposition, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim said that he was keen to see good governance and a change in the atmosphere of the House.
Referring to his remarks about the attack on Corps Commander's motorcade that it could be the work of opponents, he made it clear that the word "opponents" was not meant for the opposition benches, but he intended to say the enemies of Pakistan were behind the attack.
The chief minister said that he extended apology if any of the members was hurt. Dr Arbab Rahim said that he wanted to see a better performance of the assembly by setting his own example.
He claimed that he would welcome their (opposition's) criticism on the budget and would like to have as many days for general discussion as were allowed by the rules, even he was prepared to sit on Sunday for the very purpose.
The chief minister said that he did not like to runaway from criticism so much so that he had even asked the members from treasury benches that if they had any complaint regrading the performance of any department they would be welcomed.
The situation in Sindh, he said, called for joining hands to work for the betterment and welfare of people. "Every member from either side would find him (chief minister) helpful in his genuine work," he maintained.
Nisar Ahmad Khuhro appreciated the gestures of chief minister about setting new traditions and improving the performance of the institutions on behalf of the opposition.
"No doubt there are shortcomings, failures and various pressures on the government, but his only request is he should not pass personal remarks as it becomes matter of privilege," he added. Later, Dr Hameeda Khuhro adjourned the session till Saturday morning.
