KARACHI, March 9: The Sindh Assembly Speaker, Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, justifying his action of proroging the assembly on Friday said that despite his repeated instructions when about half-a-dozen members from both, the opposition and treasury benches, who were speaking at the same time, did not pay any heed, and after witnessing rumpus in the House for about 20 minutes he was left with no choice except prorogue the House.
Mr Shah was talking to journalists in his chamber soon after the house was prorogued. He said the assembly session was requisitioned by the opposition. He said on its fourth working day, there was lack of quorum because the opposition members were late for the session. He said if the house continued to be in session in this manner, there was no possibility of holding deliberations on substantive issues.
He said that it was the joint responsibility of the opposition and treasury to come on time and maintain quorum so that the business on the order of the day could be taken up. He said for this purpose he had requested both sides on Tuesday before adjourning the session for Friday to come on time and also reactivate the House Advisory Committee by holding its meeting in his chamber prior to going in the House. The ten committee members, five from each side did not turn up. Only Nisar Khuhro from the opposition came to his chamber while there was no member from the treasury benches. However, after Mr Khuhro had left, two ministers from the treasury benches came to his chamber.
He said today when he provided Dr Saeeda Malik of the Treasury and Shazia Marri of the Opposition, who moved separate resolutions on Woman’s Universal Day, an opportunity to work on a common draft, they could not agree on a common draft on a non-controversial but very important issue.
Before the speaker could put the two resolutions before the House, the Minister for Mines and Minerals rose from his seat and insisted he be allowed to move a motion under Rule 211 for suspension of Item No II, 1V and V listed on the order of the day and take up Item No IV about announcement of assent to the bills by the governor. This move was opposed by the opposition and after hearing both sides he put the motion to the House and called for division which was carried by 57 against 38.
With the announcement of the result of division, a disturbance started. Almost all opposition members, present in the house were on their feet and some of them opposed the taking up of Item No VI announcement of the assent of the bills by the governor.
The treasury members also joined the melee and a blame game started. The opposition was insisting that the treasury members first take their seat. The treasury members were urging the speaker to ask the opposition members to sit down. This created chaos which continued for about 20 minutes. The Friday session was over as the clock struck noon and the session was prorogued.
