KARACHI, March 9: The requisitioned session of the Sindh Assembly was prorogued sine die on Friday without any deliberations on any of the substantive issue during its four working days out of eight days session for which the opposition had requisitioned the House.
Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, who was presiding over the session, during 45 minutes sitting on Friday witnessed rumpus for 20 minutes and issued two warnings saying if the opposition and treasury benches did not heed his instructions and take their seats he would not conduct the house.
The disturbances, which led to proroging of the session, started when the Speaker amidst severe protest from the opposition put the verbal motion of Mines and Mineral Minister Irfanullah Khan Marwat, to the House and called for division.
Mr Marwat through the motion asked the chair to allow him under Rule 211 to make a motion to suspend all relevant rules so that items listed from II to V may be deferred and Item No VI which pertains to announcement of assent of the bills given by the governor may be taken up directly.
The motion was carried by 57 against 38. This provoked the opposition and they rose from their seats while from the treasury benches provincial ministers Muhammad Hussain, Sohrab Sarki, Sadar Nadir Akmal Leghari, Shakir Ali, and others joined Marwat and countered the opposition.
The Speaker for a while prevailed on the opposition who took their seats and the chair gave the floor to Syed Qaim Ali Shah. He said the agenda as per rules was prepared by the assembly secretary with the consultation of the law minister in which questions hour was about the home department. It was an important issue as law and order situation had deteriorated and should be taken up according to the agenda. This stand was objected by Marwat, Muhammad Hussain and others from treasury benches. Mr Marwat said the legislation was in public interest while the opposition was keen to discuss its complaints.
Muhammad Hussain said that announcement of assent of the bills, which were passed by the assembly during its last session of the previous parliamentary year would provide relief to people. He requested the chair to proceed accordingly as the motion was passed.
On one occasion when Mr Marwat tried to assert on the chair, the Speaker was annoyed and said he would not take dictation from any one. He requested both sides to take their seat otherwise he would not conduct the house proceedings.
Qaim Ali Shah drew the chair’s attention that he may be allowed to speak as he was recognised by the chair. The speaker said to allow him to announce the bills whose assent was given by the governor. From the opposition Dharejo and others stood and started speaking with at the top of their voice.
Addressing Dharejo, the Speaker warned him against obstructing the House business. Before the Speaker could start announcing the bills, all opposition members rose from their seats and began chanting “Shame, shame.” The Speaker saying that he could not listen to all members at the same time left the seat saying that the House stands prorogued.
Earlier, the house business started two hours and 15 minutes later than the scheduled 9am. The Speaker, who called the House in order at 11.15am, at the very outset reprimanded both sides for failing to make up quorum and running the business only for an hour.
Minister for Mines and Minerals Irfanullah Khan Marwat rising from his seat pointed out to the chair that as it was a requisitioned session, it was the obligation of the opposition to make quorum. Responding to the minister’s remarks, Leader of Opposition Nisar Khuhro said whether it was an opposition requisitioned session or government summoned, it was the joint responsibility of the opposition and treasury members to make up the quorum.
After offering Fateha for the deceased persons whose names were referred by different members, Mr Marwat took the floor and sought permission from the chair to move a verbal motion for suspending items enlisted on the order of the day from II to V and taking up Item No VI regarding announcement of assent to bills. This move was opposed by the opposition.
The chair drew the House attention towards two resolutions submitted by Dr Saeeda Malik from the treasury side and Shazia Marri from the opposition. Both the resolutions were on the subject of Women’s Universal Day.
The Speaker suggested that both members sit together and prepare a common draft for adoption but if they failed on a common draft then he would have no option but get the House to vote.
When both the members were discussing to agree on a common draft, the Speaker gave the floor to Nisar Khuhro who highlighted the importance of the order of the day and the philosophy behind putting the question hour, privilege motion and adjournment motion as Item numbers ii, iii, iv and v.
Muhammad Hussain obstructed Khuhro saying that every member was aware of the importance of the order of the day. If they were interested in deliberations on their substantive issues they should come on time in the House so that privilege and adjournment motions could be taken up.
Meanwhile, Dr Saeeda Malik rising from her seat informed the Speaker that the opposition MPA wanted to add some thing in her resolution and she did not agree and as such her resolution should be taken up.
Shazia Marri said that the resolution moved from the treasury only pertains to Article 34 of the Constitution calling for ensuring full participation of women in all spheres of national life while in our resolution we have saluted and paid tributes to the indomitable spirit of Pakistani women who stand strong and resilient despite being victims of abuse, injustice and discrimination.
After hearing both members, the chair gave the floor to Nisar Khuhro who said if the House could not deliberate on what was situation in the province there was no use of spending huge amount on holding the session.
On hearing this Irfanullah Marwat and Muhammad Hussain rose from their seat and said the opposition wanted to run away from the legislation business. The opposition cried shame shame as the speaker put the motion for division.
