KARACHI, March 21: The Opposition benches gave a tough time to the Treasury in the City Council session on Wednesday when the presiding officer did not allow them to debate on a resolution submitted by them regarding the removal of Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and subsequent developments including attack on a TV news channel office. The session was presided over by senior presiding officer Masood Mehmood.

After adopting various condolence resolutions, the convenor asked the house to take up the normal agenda. However, the Opposition members drew the attention of the house toward the “serious situation being faced by the country as a result of forced removal of the Supreme Court Chief Justice and manhandling of lawyers and journalists by the law enforcement agencies. They termed the President’s action ‘un-constitutional, saying he had no right to remove a sitting chief justice and file a reference with the Supreme Judicial Council.

Upon this, the convenor intervened and reminded the members that the council had its limitations and he was bound to observe legal norms. He said he could not allow members to raise issues beyond his powers.

The Opposition led by group leaders Saeed Ghani and Rafiq Ahmed insisted that the issue was vital as it concerned the whole nation. They maintained that due to the President’s action, the country’s image had been badly tarnished. The Presiding Officer over ruled their objection and allowed the treasury members to table their resolutions. The Opposition members stood up and shouted slogans against the military rulers. Thereafter, there was complete chaos and confusion in the house. The Opposition later staged a walkout.

In the Opposition’s absence, the house continued its proceedings and adopted a record 21 resolutions relating in an hour.

Earlier, the Haq Parast Group leader, Mr Asif Siddique, tabled a resolution regarding the attack on a private TV channel in Islamabad and police action against journalists. A similar resolution on the subject linking it with the issue of “Unfunctional Chief Justice” was also submitted by the Opposition. The chair told the house that both sides could move a joint resolution. Mr Asif agreed but the Opposition members insisted on presenting one resolution as both issues were interlinked.

The Presiding Officer ruled that both the resolutions be submitted separately. The house adopted resolutions of both sides but did not allow a separate debate on the issue of the CJP.

The council meeting was adjourned after adopting various resolutions unanimously in the Opposition’s absence. These included funds for UC nazims, a report on iodine salt, committee report on construction of a gird station in Federal B Area, construction of a parking plaza and shops on a Clifton plot, Bylaws for entries, sale and protection of animals in veterinary department, the Hospital Committee Report and restoration of cornea operation facility

The Opposition leaders, Saeed Ghani and Rafiq Ahmed, at a joint conference, condemned the Presiding Officer’s attitude, saying he had bulldozed an important resolution regarding a burning issue of the country. They argued that the City Council was a representative body of Karachi’s citizens and we could not remain a silent spectator to what was happening in the country.

They said the country was being ruled by autocratic rulers who were destroying every institution, who did not even spare the country’s supreme judicial authority. They said the people had lost faith in the rulers and desired a change in governance.

Treasury leader Asif Siddique flanked by the senior Presiding Officer Masood Mehmood, held a separate Press conference and called the opposition’s attitude unreasonable, saying they were not interested in the people’s welfare and always raised issues which were not city-related.

They accused the Opposition of promoting their party’s agenda instead of discussing city issues, saying this was not the first time they had created chaos in the house.