KARACHI: Opposition presses govt to rein in activists: Manhandling of teachers
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, Nov 23: The issue of the prevailing law and order situation at educational institutions in the city, with particular reference to manhandling of teachers by some students in Karachi University, D. J. Science College and S. M. Arts College, was raised in the Sindh Assembly on Wednesday.
Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui, expressing his indignation over the incidents, assured the house that any student indulged in manhandling of a teacher at an educational institution would be regarded as a criminal.
The minister gave this categorical statement in response to the point of order raised by Nasrullah Shaji of MMA soon after resumption of business after Zuhr break.
Recalling the incidents, he said that at the S. M. Arts College, some teachers had been subjected to insult and locked up in a room. The locks, he added, had been jammed with an adhesive. This incident was followed by a similar one at the D. J. Science College. “I paid a visit to both the colleges and assured the teachers that misbehaviour with the teachers would not be tolerated.”
The minister said that he had talked to the KU Vice-Chancellor, Pirzada Qasim, by phone this morning. The VC informed him that a committee had been formed and stern action was being taken against those found involved in the incident at the campus. “I assured the VC that whatever action the university would take against culprits would have full support and backing of the government,” the minister said.
Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Qamar Mansoor, speaking on a point of order, stressed that raising of the issue in the house should be aimed at mitigating the sufferings of the aggrieved, and not scoring points.
Earlier, Mohammad Hussain of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, responding to the point of order, drew the attention of the house to the government’s policy with regard to dealing with such incidents sternly.
In his point of order, Mr Shaji had stated that Prof Mujeeb of Karachi University had been manhandled by a student of in his department on the campus two days after some students had manhandled some teachers at the D.J. College. Condemning the incidents, he had asked the government to take the matter seriously and take stern action against culprits.
He also took up the matter of the resentment prevailing among journalist community over the government’s failure in withdrawing certain cases against newsmen despite the fact that the home minister had himself given an assurance on the floor of the house in this regard. He said that on the contrary, raids were being conducted to pick them up.
Planning and Development Minister Shoaib Bokhari assured the house that the government would honour its commitment by withdrawing the cases with in the purview of the relevant authority. A detailed report, he added, would be presented to the house during Thursday’s proceedings of the house.
Shazia Marri of PPP drew attention of the house to the home minister’s statement in response to the point of order raised by her and another member Ghulam Quadir Chandio regarding harassment of PPP workers by police in Sanghar.
She said that she had moved an amendment to the Rules of Business of the assembly to include the provision of ‘calling attention notice’ and those items included on the agenda of private member’s day. However, she said, the proposed amendment had not been taken up as yet.
Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah said that for amending the rules, both the opposition and treasury benches would have to sit together as amendments could not be adopted without consent of a majority in the house.
The day’s proceedings started at 11.30am with Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah in the chair. After questions hour, Mr Mohammad Hussain, a member of the Panel of Chairmen, took the speaker’s chair. Speaking on a point of order, Leader of the Opposition Nisar Ahmad Khuhro referred to the remarks allegedly by Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim attributing the ‘Makli conspiracy’ to a PPP leader Makhdoom Jamiluz Zaman. Mr Khuhro demanded that the remarks be expunged.
He maintained that no doubt there was a rumpus in the house on Tuesday and amidst such a situation, if someone passed such remarks, the same should be expunged by the chair. However, he regretted, in this case, the remarks had not been expunged and were eventually carried in a section of press.
Responding to the point of order, Law Minister Iftikhar Chaudhry said that objections ought to be raised immediately after such remarks were made. Similar views were expressed by Mines and Minerals Minister Irfanullah Marwat.
However, the ministers’ contention sparked off chaos as the opposition benches strongly protested against this attitude. All opposition members rose from their seats and over half-a-dozen of them started speaking at a time.
The chair tried to respond to the point of order and calm down the agitating members but in vain. As no one paid heed to his repeated call for restoring order, the presiding chairman remarked that could no be dictated through uproar or agitation.
He gave the floor to Irrigation Minister Sardar Akmal Leghari who assured the house that the CM’s remarks in question would be expunged if the same had been made in a chaotic situation. However, the opposition benches stood dissatisfied with the assurance and Mr Zaman asked the chair for a ruling before giving the floor to any other member.
When Fariha Razzak Haroon tried to speak on a point of order, the chairman asked her to first seek permission from him. He also criticized her for maintaining a poor attendance record. The opposition reacted angrily to the chairman’s remarks and there was a pandemonium in the house again.
Syed Murad Ali Shah, who was also criticized by the chairman for rising from his seat again and again, drew the chair’s attention to the Rules 187 and also denied that he had ever used offensive language in the house as alleged by law minister. He said he would stand by his contentions but would never use offensive language.
When order was restored, the chairman gave his ruling that the record of the assembly’s Tuesday proceedings be checked and if the remarks on Makli conspiracy against Makhdoom Jamiluz Zaman were found, the same would stand expunged.
After the ruling, the house was adjourned for 20 minutes for Zuhr prayers.
QUESTIOIN HOUR: Vigilance Committees under the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act-1992 have been constituted in 12 districts of Sindh, adds APP.
This was stated by Sindh Minister for Industries Adil Siddiqui in a written reply to the question asked by Ms Humera Alwani during question hour in the Sindh Assembly.
He said the committees had been set up in Hyderabad, Khairpur, Sanghar, Tharparkar, Jacobabad, Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Naushehro Feroz, Shikarpur, Nawabshah, Ghotki and Dadu. The remaining districts, he added, were being repeatedly asked to constitute such committees. He informed the house that only Hyderabad and Khairpur, and lately Mirpurkhas, districts had convened meetings of their respective committees so far.
Replying to supplementary questions on behalf of Adil Siddiqui, Planning Minister Shoaib Bukhari said these committees would keep a watch on bonded labour victims and would help recover them.
In reply to a question by Mohammed Ayaz Soomro, Mr Siddiqui said that Sessi, at present, did not have its own hospitals for the industrial workers of Larkana and Shahdadkot. Answering Farheen Mughal’s question, the minister said that a total of 5,408 unemployed persons were registered at the Employment Exchange, Hyderabad from Jan 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005.
