KARACHI: Rumpus as treasury censures Khuhro: ‘Derogatory’ remarks
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, Oct 21: An unending pandemonium, stirred up by a government motion censuring leader of the opposition Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, led to the adjournment of the Friday proceedings of the Sindh Assembly.
The entire opposition turned hostile when the censure motion was read and passed by a voice vote.
The censure motion was moved by Aslam Pervez from the treasury benches under Rule 178 after suspension of the provisions of Rule 179 under Rule 211.
It read: “This house censures Mr Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, MPA, for passing derogatory, unbecoming and disgracing remarks against this august house by saying that the assembly has become a joke and that it should be suspended.” It appeared to be a reference to Mr Khuhro’s press conference on Thursday where was quoted as saying:”The assembly which cannot carry out any business and has failed to deliver should be suspended.”
When the motion was put before the house, a majority of members supported it in a voice vote.
This enraged the combined opposition all members of which rose from their seats and moved towards the speaker’s rostrum, chanting slogans. They surrounded the rostrum and kept shouting, giving no response to calls from Mr Mohammad Hussain, who was presiding over the session as member of the panel of chairmen, to restore order.
There was a complete chaos amid which nothing other than the opposition’s slogans was audible.
Despite the pandemonium, the chairman tried to conduct the proceedings by taking up the agenda and announced commencement of question hour. He went on calling question numbers one after the other but all this ended in just five minutes amid protest by opposition members.
Later, the chair asked Law Minister Chaudhry Iftikhar to initiate the discussion on the admissibility of the privilege motion of Ms Sharfun Nisa Leghari. However, the nothing could be heard amid the persisting uproar.
Failing to restore order in the house, the chairman suspended the proceedings for 15 minutes at 11.08am.
When the house reassembled, at 11.42am and Mr Mohammad Hussain took his seat again, the opposition members again converged on the speaker’s rostrum and resumed slogan-raising condemning the censure motion.
The law minister, rising from his seat, asked the opposition “Is this the way to run the house business?” He pointed out that both the privilege and adjournment motions had been moved by opposition members for discussion. “If they are no more interested in taking up these motions, let them go,” he added.
As the pandemonium intensified, the chair announced adjournment of the day’s proceedings. The house would now meet again on Monday.
Earlier, when the house was called to order at 10.30am, Law Minister Chaudhry Iftikhar made a statement on Mr Khuhro’s ‘derogatory’ remarks and pointed out that the business carried out in the current session included passage of two bills, introduction of another two bills, tabling of six ordinances and the governor’s assent to yet another five bills, besides taking up question hour to answer the queries pertaining to the Board of Revenue and departments of excise and taxation, agriculture, health and education.
He pointed out that the house also passed a resolution with regard to the devastating earthquake and members expressed their sentiments. “On what grounds the opposition leader has made the undemocratic demand, notwithstanding the fact that he is a member of the assembly in a democratic government?” he asked.
Reminding the house that the proceedings were being run under the set rules and regulations, he alleged that its was the opposition which was creating obstacles in the way of the smooth functioning of the house and accusing the government of not paying attention to the house business to demand its suspension. “This is unfair,” he said.
The law minister claimed that Mr Khuhro’s remarks might be part of the opposition’s strategy to get the assembly suspended. He advised the opposition to adopt a positive attitude and not to resort to playing negative politics.
Instead of suspending the assembly, membership of those making such a demand and hindering its functioning should be suspended, the minister said.
Responding to the law minister’s statement, Mr Khuhro said that Chaudhry Iftikhar had referred to the remarks carried by newspapers whereas he had always maintained while speaking on the floor of the house that if the assembly was to be made a joke, then it should be suspended.
“We gather here to find ways to resolve the problems being faced by people. If we cannot do this, there is no point in wasting the time.”
He pointed out that this session has been called three months after the budget session. “This shows seriousness of the government.”
As far as the discussion on earthquake is concerned, it is very important for the members to express their sympathies with the victims of the calamity and we had also moved a resolution in this regard.
Regarding the law minister’s contention about his performance, Mr Khuhro said that replying questions from members was a responsibility of the government.
“And this responsibility is also avoided by ministers at their will.”
The opposition leader pointed out that the Rules of Procedure did provide for a discussion on privilege and adjournment motions, but none of them had been disposed of as yet.
About the two bills got approved by the house, Mr Khuhro said the same had been taken up out of turn and one of them pertained to meatless days.
He complained that the treasury benches were not also agreeing to his proposal that the house should hold a four-hour sitting.
KARACHI, Oct 21: An unending pandemonium, stirred up by a government motion censuring leader of the opposition Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, led to the adjournment of the Friday proceedings of the Sindh Assembly.
