KARACHI, March 15: The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday, which was private members day, introduced nine private bills in the House, adopted a resolution on protection of the rights of women, and referred the privileged motion of Dr Nasrullah Baloch to the standing committee on privileges.
Besides, the discussion on the admissibility of adjournment motion pertaining to Dr Shazia Khalid moved by Nisar Ahmad Khuhro and other members from the opposition remained inconclusive.
When Syed Murad Ali Shah moved his motion to introduce “call to attention notice” to raise important issues on the pattern of National Assembly, the time was over and Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah put off further discussion till next private members day.
On Tuesday, it was a pleasant surprise that the treasury benches were present in the House before entrance of the opposition except leader of the opposition Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, who came at 10.30am when the session started its proceedings.
Except uproar over a remark by opposition member Dr Nasrullah Baloch about Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui, which was expunged from the proceedings by the chair and a warning to Rafique Engineer by the speaker, the House witnessed an orderly business till 3.30pm when the speaker called it a day to meet on Wednesday.
This could be the outcome of withdrawal of opposition on Monday from the House business committee in protest against inordinate delay by treasury benches in taking seats.
The private bills, introduced in the House, pertained to the protection of women rights; provision of proper care to destitute senior citizens; and protection of children against organizations and individuals who forced them to beg or exploit them in some other ways. Other bills pertained to provision of free education in professional institutes to deserving and talented students; two identical bills on better health delivery system of public hospitals and health centres by establishing community health boards; amendment to the Dow University of Health Sciences Act 2004; changes in Sindh Building Control Ordinance 1979; and ban on installation and use of pressure horns, hooters and flash lights by all vehicles on roads except those used for emergency services.
The two resolutions, passed by the House unanimously seeking protection to the rights of women, were moved by Ms Shazia Marri from the opposition benches and Ms Farina Ambreen from the treasury side.
The resolutions said that women being home makers and bread winners faced many odds and their privileges should be protected for a better tomorrow.
The privilege motion, which was referred to the standing committee on the privileges, was forwarded by Dr Nasrullah Baloch who referred the incident of Feb 1st at Rohri Railway Station where a head constable misbehaved with him over car parking. Law Minister Iftikhar Chaudhry said that it was not a breach of privilege as MPAs should also abide by the law. The speaker pointed out that MPA had a VIP status and as such the matter required investigation.
Later, Rafique Engineer who was given a warning by the speaker walked out in protest.
Nisar Ahmad Khuhro called for adjournment of the business under Rule 71 for discussion on admissibility of his motion regarding Dr Shazia Khalid. The notices of similar motions were also given by Ms Humera Alwani, Dr Mehreen Bhutto and Rafique Engineer separately. In their arguments, they said that Dr Shazia Khalid hailed from Sindh and she was made victim of inhuman treatment in Balochistan. They asked why Sindh government failed to take notice of the tragedy.
Law Minister Iftikhar Chaudhry said that the incident had occurred in Balochistan which was beyond the jurisdiction of Sindh government. He said that the Balochistan government had taken notice of the incident and ordered judicial inquiry by a High Court judge.
After 40 minutes discussion on the admissibility point of the motion, the speaker put off further discussion for Wednesday.
