November 19, 2005	Saturday	Shawwal 16, 1426

KARACHI, Nov 18: The Sindh Assembly session which began at 11am, almost two hours behind schedule, on Friday, was adjourned till Monday after only one hour of deliberations.

The first half hour was consumed in raising points of order and a brief discussion on the boat tragedy near Thatta coastal area in which 35 people had drowned recently.

Some remarks by members from both treasury and opposition benches provided occasion for uproar.

Responding to the contention of Ms Sassui Palejo of PPP that the government was responsible for the tragedy, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Rahim said that the incident had occurred due to overloading and that it was fault of the people onboard. This set off emotional scenes in the house and Ms Palejo was heard saying that the treasury benches were making fun of the bereaved families.

Later when the chief minister said that the government, like Ms Palejo, was also grieved over the tragic deaths, all opposition members were on their feet. However, before the situation could go beyond control, the chief minister came out with counter-allegation that the opposition was making fun of the house.

“The opposition neither listens to anyone, nor does it explain its own point of view,” he said. He maintained that the tragedy had taken place at around 3am near Keti Bander and one could not expect 24-hour vigilance across the coastal area. Furthermore, he added, on a boat which had the capacity to carry hardly 20 passengers, more than 50 people had boarded despite objection by the boat operators. It was the passengers’ mistake that led to the tragedy, the chief minister insisted.

He said although the scene of the incident was at a considerable distance from the coast, district administration, navy personnel and divers were rushed soon after receiving the information.

However, when the chief minister remarked that he was also grieved over the tragedy, like Ms Palejo, who had gone there three days after the tragedy, there was uproar from the opposition benches.

Before any other members could try to take the floor, Deputy Speaker Rahila Tiwana, who was presiding over the session, ended the discussion and announced commencement of question hour, the next item on the agenda.

Earlier, Ms Palejo told the house: “We reached there… even electronic media people had reached there soon after the incident but the government functionaries could arrive only the next morning.” She asserted that it was not the fault of the victims but of the government which resulted in the tragedy. Ms Palejo, who had turned a bit emotional, disrupted the chief minister’s speech.

She demanded rescue facilities and availability of life jackets along the coastline, as well as more compensation to be paid to the bereaved families.

Soon after offering Fateha for the victims, MMA’s Nasrullah Shaji rose from his seat and on a point of order drew the chair’s attention to the untoward incident in the DJ Science College where some students, belonging to a party in the Sindh coalition had allegedly misbehaved with the principal and teachers earlier in the day. Condemned the incident, he said misbehaviour with teachers would not be tolerated.

He demanded an inquiry into the affair and punishment to those found involved in the incident.

Rafique Engineer of the PPP, through a point of order, drew the chair’s attention to the death of the son and daughter of PPP leader Shehla Raza in an accident. The two children died when the car they were travelling in skidded into a roadside rain drain. He contended that the accident was the result of negligence by the city government as the portion of the rain drain, running along Abul Hassan Ispahani Road, had no cover and was not visible to motorists.

QUESTION HOUR: In reply to a supplementary question put up by opposition leader Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, chief minister Dr Arbab said that at the golden plate covering the dome of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar’s mausoleum was so thin that it could sustain damage even if a bird sat on it. He said that the contractor concerned had done a botched work.

He asked the questioner about the funds the PPP had apportioned for the beautification work in Larkana and Thatta. The chief minister claimed that the PPP had done nothing to facilitate start of the work on the Qalandar’s Mazar, and alleged that the dome had fallen down due to the negligence of that party.

“The contract was given to the wrong firm by the people of Surrey Palace,” he remarked, adding that investigation was now being carried out into the faulty work and after its completion, further renovation work would be initiated at the shrine.

When some members from the opposition tried to interrupt him, Dr Arbab told them: “Keep quite for a while… Don’t misbehave… Maintain decorum of the house.”

Mr Khuhro responded to the chief minister’s allegation by saying that he (Mr Khuhro) was proud that the repair and renovation work of the shrine had been started by the PPP government. The work, he added, had started in 1995 and was due to be completed within three years. However, the same had not yet been completed despite passage of eight years now.

Minister for Auqaf Manzoor Panhwar said that out of Rs234.373 million spared for the first phase of the work, Rs168.1578 million had so far been spent to carry out 99 per cent of the work. In the second phase, work on Dhamal Court which had been started in 2003, Rs64.819 million had been earmarked out of which Rs 17 million had been spent on 30 per cent of the work. Procedures for the third phase were being pursued, the minister said, adding that in this phase, the work would cost Rs142.220 million and included work on golden gate, Shia-Sunni mosque, Langar Khana, etc.

He maintained that the work could not be completed within the stipulated period of three years because the firm that had been awarded the contract had its consultant based in London.

Jam Tamachi of PPP pointed out that the repair and renovation work of Data Darbar had been completed by Shahbaz Sharif within three years but the rulers of Sindh could not complete the work on Qalandar’s mazar even 32 years after Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had initiated the same.

Earlier, in reply to a question by Assardas Hemnani, the minister said that the historical temple of Odero Lal was not under the control of the federal government.

Replying to a supplementary question about theft of precious antiques, the chief minister said that some of the antiques were found in Surrey Palace, London.

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