KARACHI, Nov 6: Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Monday accused the opposition in provincial assembly of creating hurdles in legislation by the house and praised Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah for barring MPA Rafique Engineer from attending the Tuesday session for obstructing the assembly proceedings.

Talking to newsmen in his chamber in assembly building after adjournment of the session, he criticised the opposition, especially PPP MPAs, for their attitude and said they had no interest in public issues and legislation to solve problems of the masses.

“Fortunately or unfortunately, the opposition is quite strong in the provincial assembly but it has always utilised its strength in creating hurdles in legislation. Law making is the prime responsibility of the Parliament and if legislators fail to do so, they don’t serve their voters,” he observed.

He said that people of Sindh had voted PPP MPAs to Sindh Assembly and they should hold them accountable for their attitude and performance. He said their attitude often led to dissolve assemblies in the past. But this assembly would complete its tenure despite all their (opposition’s) misconduct and obstructions, he said adding that credit for completion of assemblies’ constitutional tenure goes to President General Pervez Musharraf.

“Opposition want to wind up ongoing democratic process as they only consider their own rule as the genuine democracy. Their brother and sister sitting abroad (referring to former premiers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif) direct them to create hurdles in legislation by the present assemblies,” he charged.

The chief minister charged that the PPP itself was involved in fake registration of voters list and rigging, which was the prime reason behind its opposition against new computerised list being prepared by the Election Commission of Pakistan.

He alleged that opposition always remained in search of opportunity to let down the government.

Replying to a question, he said that nobody was taking away Sindh’s coastal belt, its land or islands, only investors wanted to develop the provincial coastal belt, which would ultimately benefit the people of Sindh.

—PPI