KARACHI: Opposition vows to raise real issues in next PA session
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, Oct 21: Leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro on Saturday said that in the next month’s session of the provincial legislature, his party would certainly raise the issues of voters’ list discrepancy and relief and rehabilitation of rain-affected people of Sindh.
Besides, it would urge the house to adopt a resolution calling upon the Sindh government to seek from the federal government compensation for the losses suffered by the province due to the short supply of water over the past several years.
Although he was not very hopeful about a productive outcome during the remaining 18-day sittings of the current calendar, Mr Khuhro said the opposition would do its best in this regard. He hoped that the assembly would consider issues like rise in crime, especially street crime, in detail now when the federal government had also taken a serious notice the situation and the prime minister had even set October 31 as the deadline for the Sindh government to root it out.
The opposition leader said that through a resolution, it would be brought to record that due to various violations, Thatta and Badin districts had suffered a loss of 2.2 million acres of high-priced agricultural land on account of withholding of below the Kotri escapages agreed and allowed under clause 7 of the Water Accord.
A demand for compensation has been made in the draft resolution in line with the award of Rs110 billion (with 10 per cent interest) to the NWFP as arrears of hydro-electric generation profits by the tribunal appointed for the purpose.
Mr Khuhro said the opposition wanted the provincial assembly to resolve that just as withholding of hydro-electric profits of the NWFP was a clear violation of the Constitution, the change of the procedure and formula for sharing water shortages specified under clause 4 (b) of the Inter-Provincial Water Accord 1991 was also a violation.
Mr Khuhro expected frequent adjournments of the session commencing on November 3, saying it could be resorted to by the government to scuttle a discussion on the real issues being faced by the people. He cited the experience of the past 52 days of sittings during which hardly any legislation could be made.
According to sources, half a million rupees is spent every day when the provincial assembly is in session. This amount does not include the cost of mobilisation of security net and other services. Nor does it reflect the loss of man hours due to traffic jams on the road housing the Assembly House.
Considering the amount, it can safely be calculated that Rs26 million have already been spent for the 52 days of sittings while another 10 million is expected to be spent on the next 18 days of sittings, the sources said.
Except for presenting the provincial budget, and that too in a questionable manner, the provincial assembly has done nothing so far to justify the spending, they observed.
A major concern of the opposition was the Speaker’s attitude because, according to them, he had allegedly been obstructing them from raising points of order. Opposition legislators believe that a speaker cannot stop a member from raising a point of order as it is a provision in the Rules of Procedure. However, after listening to what a member has to say, he can rule whether or not the point raised falls within the required conditions of a point of order. They also have grievance against long adjournments and late commencement of the proceedings.
The rule most often referred to by the opposition is Rule 211 (Suspension of Rules) which states: “The speaker or the assembly may suspend any of the rules”. Interestingly, this particular rule was framed to safeguard the voice of the minority in the house because the first option for suspension of rules is the speaker. It’s obvious that if this right is constantly given only to the assembly with the speaker as a bystander, the minority will always lose, leaving no one there to protect its voice.
Be that as it may, the opposition’s role in the house has also been questionable. It lacked due preparation for discussion on an issue on the agenda.
