KARACHI: Opposition rally in front of speaker’s chamber: Mock session held after one-hour sit-in
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, March 28: The joint opposition in the Sindh Assembly staged a sit-in outside the Speaker’s chamber soon after the requisitioned session was prorogued on Wednesday. The protest was led by Leader of the Opposition in the house Nisar Ahmed Khuhro.
Some of the legislators were holding placards inscribed with slogans “Stop abusing rules of the assembly; Stop violation of the Constitution; Speaker partial towards opposition,” etc.
During their hour-long noisy protest, they kept raising slogans against misuse of law and in support of free judiciary.
Addressing the protesters, Mr Khuhro recalled the history of the “suppression of the opposition’s voice in the Sindh Assembly through denying it the right to raise and discuss all major and pressing issues by proroguing every requisitioned session. He said the opposition wanted debate on the killings of MPA Abdullah Murad, Mufti Shamzai, Munawwar Suhrawardi, Khalid Bin Walid and many political activists, besides a large number of ulema and faithful who were eliminated in a single incident at Nishtar Park. He deplored that the debate was not being allowed whereas none of the culprits in all such incidents was arrested as yet. He said the opposition had constantly been making attempts to take up these and other major issues on the floor of the House but the Treasury and the Speaker had always bulldozed the agendas of all requisition sessions. He reminded the government and the speaker that in the democratic dispensation, assembly was the only forum where the government could be held accountable for its wrongdoings or inaction. He pointed out that the Treasury side had always played the tactics to escape a debate or accountability.
He said that the session prorogued on Wednesday was also requisitioned to discuss the major issues of rigging in the recent by-elections for NA-250 and PS-71 during which the opposition candidates were subjected to thrashing and intimidation whereas MNA Azra Pechuho’s car was attacked with firearms.
He criticised Chief Minister Dr Arbab Rahim for his remarks that the floor of the assembly was not a police station where FIRs could be discussed. Mr Khuhro said it was quite clear to everyone that the opposition had requisitioned the session to discuss the rigging in by-elections and the chief minister’s remarks against women in politics, for which a privilege motion was already submitted. He said the opposition also wanted to expose corrupt practices by the chief minister and the party led by Mr Altaf Hussain but the Treasury side made its escape good.
Mr Khuhro reiterated the opposition’s resolve to seek requisitioned sessions one after the other until the government was forced to explain its position. “We will continue to play our due role as elected representatives,” he asserted.
After his speech, the opposition members held a ‘mock assembly’ which was chaired by Shama Mithani, a member of the Panel of Chairmen. Shazia Marri moved her privilege motion which was referred to the privilege committee.
Mr Khuhro also moved his adjournment motion which was declared ‘in order’ and before adjourning the sitting, the chair announced that the motion would be taken up for a four-hour discussion ‘next day’.
