KARACHI: Sindh Assembly is likely to come under fire from critics for passing no worthwhile legislation and its apparent failure to address issues of concern to the common man, during its 52-day sitting in the current calendar year.
With 18 more such sittings to come, there is little chance that the scenario will change drastically, observers point out.
Commentators say that most proceedings have been marred by booing and shouting and the questionable demeanour and actions of some of the members of this ‘graduate’ assembly. Therefore, “its performance inspires very little confidence” in the masses that their grievances will be addressed.
When blame is apportioned for this state of affairs, the treasury and opposition benches may end up shouldering an equal burden. If the governing coalition has appeared disinterested in proceedings, opposition members have also been found wanting in terms of homework and research while raising key issues.
During the current calendar, the government had called four sessions which respectively lasted 10, four, 11 and three days. But, during the longest requisitioned session of the current year, which lasted from Feb 3 to March 3 with long adjournment, the house was unable to firm up a joint stand on Kalabagh Dam and the National Finance Commission’s reconstitution besides the ongoing military operation in Balochistan.
It was surprising to note the inability of the ruling coalition to take a position against General Pervez Musharraf and Punjab’s policies on water related issues, on which the entire province is enraged.
The governing coalition appeared reluctant to discuss the situation caused by the ongoing military operation in Balochistan and the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti. Coalition partners who were decrying the killing in press statements did not feel obliged to raise the issue on the floor of the house.
The governing majority may have bulldozed the opposition’s bid to discuss the devastation caused by the recent rains in Karachi, but did this action diminish the plight of its electorate or afforded the government an opportunity to raise its game? Many would answer in the negative. What happened in Hyderabad and elsewhere following rains illustrates this argument.
The devastation brought by rain can be blamed on nature but what about the deteriorating law and order situation. One only read the morning papers to see the rising incidents of terrorism, excesses by the law enforcement agencies, street crimes and number of missing persons.
The Nishtar Park carnage was on the agenda of one of the requisitioned sessions but it was bulldozed by the ruling party because it represented a huge failure on its part, especially of its coalition component which claimed the ministry to be its exclusive domain. The issue of demolition of old Goths in and around Karachi and Katchi Abadis by the City District Government Karachi was brushed under the carpet probably due to similar considerations.
If the legislators, primarily of the ruling coalition, continue to block discussion on rain devastation and rehabilitation of the affected areas, problems with voters lists, ban on teachers’ union, law and order situation, and the crippling price hike, it can only be viewed as a failure and the onus of this would be on them and them alone.
The lack of planning and homework in the opposition ranks was exploited by the ruling coalition, thanks also to the indulgence of the Speaker. This was evident from the Opposition leader’s complaint that “agenda of our requisitioned session is deliberately put on a private members’ day to avoid discussion on the issues for which the session was included”.
“He does not use his discretion under Rule 211 and take refuge behind the ruling coalition’s numerical superiority,” complains leader of the opposition. Slogan-chanting and the uproar and pandemonium in the house were utilised by the treasury benches to duck issues. But the ruling party members accused the opposition of wasting time and money of the people by every now and then summoning the session, without any justification. “They don’t do their homework and accuse us of avoiding discussion” said a ruling party member.
It is not clear why the Speaker has been reluctant to convene sessions requisitioned by the opposition and instead convened a session on the request of the government. Even when it is summoned on opposition’s requisition, the ruling coalition has steered the discussion in such a way that the opposition’s agenda has not been taken up. Motions are kept lower in the order of the day, leaving hardly any chance for them to be taken up. Decorum of house always gets disturbed before they are taken up, providing a pretext for adjournment.
The Speaker is also accountable to the people of the province and he must ensure that once a session is called, its agenda is given serious consideration. Members should be penalised for late coming and not focusing on the agenda because that would be tantamount to wasting the nation’s wealth. As a custodian of the house he too must share the blame for the performance of the assembly which left a lot to be desired.
