January 10, 2006	Tuesday	Zilhaj 9, 1426

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DERA GHAZI KHAN, Jan 9: The opposition boycotted the first meeting of the Dera tehsil council on Monday and staged a walkout in protest against ignoring it in the formation of a three-member presiding committee which would steer the house in the absence of convener.

The plenary session was presided over by naib nazim Syed Ashraf Shah.

The opposition started protest when the presiding committee comprising three members from treasury benches, Zulfiqar Bhatti, Tahir Bilal Toor and Badarun Nisa Bibi, was named. The committee will steer the house in the absence of convener.

The opposition, led by Qasim Shah and Rana Akbar, criticized the tehsil nazim for neglecting the opposition. They alleged that tehsil nazim facilitated federal minister Awais Leghari in holding a news conference against the chief minister.

They claimed that tehsil nazim was working against the chief minister and facilitating those element who were against him (chief minister).

Sixteen members, including five women, boycotted the meeting and staged a sit-in in front of tehsil nazim’s office. They claimed that treasury benches approved by-laws without fulfilling the criterion of quorum because there were only 28 treasury members while the requirement was of 30 members.

When contacted, Syed Ashraf Shah disputed the claim of the opposition. He said 46 treasury members were present in the house when by-laws were approved.

Nazim Mahmood Qadir Leghari also spoke on the occasion and assured the house that he would serve all the members, treasury and opposition, alike.