KARACHI, Aug 14: The Sindh Assembly session, which has been summoned by Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad on Tuesday, Aug 17, is likely to last one week.

Although opposition circles have termed it a ploy of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League to keep opposition members away from Thar and supervise by-election in NA-299, to be contested by designate prime minister Shaukat Aziz against the Pakistan People's Party candidate Dr Mahesh Malani, who is also backed by joint opposition.

They said that the session could have been called after the by-election of August 18 but despite tall claims of conducting the election process transparently, the ruling party preferred to call the session to keep the opposition members away from the election scene.

"If opposition benches did not turn up on Tuesday to attend the session, they could miss the occasion of taking up the resolutions, privilege motions and adjournment motions submitted by them for highlighting the issues of public interest, and if they turn up to attend the session, the ruling coalition would have almost walkover in the by-election for want of experienced polling agents."

The opposition benches had not yet opened their cards for the session and the Thar by-election.

Neither the opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, Mr Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, nor the parliamentary party leader of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Moulana Umar Sadiq, were available for comments viz-a-viz Tuesday's session.

On Tuesday, being the private member's day, besides routine agenda items, five resolutions submitted by members would also be discussed. These resolutions would be included in the agenda after balloting out of 20 resolutions.

Other items to be taken up pertain to five privilege motions, four adjournment motions and the private bills pending.