KARACHI: Blasphemous caricature unanimously condemned: Sindh PA session
By Habib Khan Ghori
KARACHI, Feb 3: The Sindh Assembly on Friday strongly condemned the publication of highly blasphemous cartoons by a Danish newspaper and a reproduction of the same by certain other newspapers and periodicals of France, Norway and other European countries.
The resolution was presented by Mohammad Hussain of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement who was allowed, under Rule 211, to move it out of turn soon after the questions hour.
Several identical resolutions were also read out by ministers Irfanullah Khan Marwat, Shoaib Bokhari, Iftikhar Chaudhry, Qamar Mansoor, Dr Saeeda Malik and an MQM member Bilqees Mukhtar.
Leader of the opposition Nisar Ahmed Khuhro stood up and told the chair that he would like to endorse the resolution moved by Mr Hussain as this represented sentiments of the house. He suggested that it should be moved as a ‘joint resolution’ of the treasury and opposition benches.
Law minister Iftikhar Chaudhry provided a copy of the resolution to Mr Khuhro. The house ignored an amendment, proposed by Syed Murad Ali Shah of PPP, to the resolution.
Hameedullah Khan of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal also read out under rule 211 the resolution he had deposited with the secretary of the assembly earlier.
Murad Ali Shah and Hameedullah Khan wanted the Sindh government to recommend to the federal government that the issue of blasphemous caricatures be taken up with the concerned governments and protest should also be lodged with them.
Hameedullah Khan said that while the prime minister of Norway had already tendered an apology, the other responsible governments should also follow suit.
The chair observed that the treasury benches had already supported the member’s contention.
Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui pointed out that the federal government had taken up the matter with the concerned governments. He also referred to the latest act of blasphemy, indicating that the man involved was Munir Shakir. The government, he said, had initiated necessary action against him.
Finally, the house unanimously adopted the resolution, moved by Mohammad Hussain, through a voice vote.
Mr Khuhro’s attempt to move a resolution against the military operation in Balochistan did not succeed.
After the consensus resolution was adopted, the session, called on a requisition filed by the joint opposition, was adjourned till February 24.
Earlier, when the proceedings commenced at 10:45am, late by one hour and 45 minutes, S.A. Iqbal Qadri, Irfan Gul Magsi, Begum Gulzar Unnar and Dr Sikander Mandro were nominated as members of the Panel of Chairmen. Deputy Speaker Rahila Tiwana was in the chair.
Mohammad Hussain, through point of order, drew the chair’s attention to the violation of a rule under which fateha khwani in the house could be offered only for a person who had remained a member of this house, or a prominent figure who would have rendered exemplary services to the country or the province.
The chair advised all members to follow the rule in future.
Leader of the opposition Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, raising a point of order, complained that it appeared to be the third session requisitioned by the joint opposition to discuss the serious and issues of public interest, like water, distribution of resources, law and order, etc., but every time the chair would prorogue the session on one pretext or the other.
In the current session, he insisted, the opposition would like to discuss the prosecution of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto, besides the issue of the blasphemous cartoons.
The law minister said that the issue related to Ms Bhutto was a judicial matter, adding that the house business should be run in accordance with the rules of business.
The minister for mines said that though the opposition had requisitioned the session, it did not like the house to follow the agenda. “If the opposition doesn’t want the agenda to be followed, it would be better to put off the sitting till after Ashura,” he remarked.
The chair also noted that in spite of having requisitioned the agenda, the opposition did not turn up on time to ensure a complete quorum. It was also deviating from the agenda and violating discipline, Ms Tiwana added.
Her statement prompted an exchange of hot words between her and Mr Khuhro. The opposition leader said that to take up and complete the business before the house was a moral obligation.
KARACHI, Feb 3: The Sindh Assembly on Friday strongly condemned the publication of highly blasphemous cartoons by a Danish newspaper and a reproduction of the same by certain other newspapers and periodicals of France, Norway and other European countries.
