KARACHI, March 28: All contentious issues, including the May 12 massacre, the alleged destruction of goths in the city as well as “excesses” committed against the people of Sindh by the previous government, will be discussed in the Sindh Assembly, said Pir Mazharul Haq, the designated leader of the Pakistan People’s Party’s parliamentary party in the provincial assembly.

He was addressing a press briefing after a meeting of the parliamentary party held at PPP MPA-elect Shama Arif Mithani’s residence here on Friday night.

“I went to discuss the schedule of the assembly. It was not part of my mandate to discuss these issues. The proper way and proper place to discuss these is in the assembly,” he said, referring to his meeting with Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad held on Thursday, in reply to a question.

The Pir seemed to provoke a member of the press when he described his meeting with the governor, who is supported by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, as “warm and cordial,” which led to a barrage of pointed questions aimed at him from some of the media-men regarding May 12 as well as the destruction of goths.

Pir Mazhar said he and Dr Ibad had met after a long time and reminisced about their time as lawmakers in the 1990s, while discussing their “painful” period as exiles. He said one of the main reasons for calling Friday’s meeting was to brief the party’s MPAs-elect about his discussion with Dr Ibad, adding that party members had concurred with his line of action.

He denied he had asked the governor to reschedule the date of the assembly session and said he had suggested that the elections for speaker, deputy speaker and leader of the house be held in back-to-back sessions, which can technically happen in the same day. “The governor will announce whether these proposals are accepted or not. I am confident all issues will be sorted out positively.”

Pir Mazhar said he had also delivered a message from chief minister designate Syed Qaim Ali Shah – who was present at Friday’s parliamentary party meeting but left before the briefing – to the governor regarding the appointment of the new head of the Sindh Public Service Commission. “Let the new government decide the fate of the Public Service Commission’s head. We recommended a stay in the appointment. However, I have received unconfirmed reports today that the government has gone ahead with the appointment. I don’t know why they did not heed our request,” he said.

When media-men asked him why the party was simply passing resolutions and not taking any concrete steps, Pir Mazhar pleaded for time.

“We haven’t even taken over yet. We want to create an atmosphere of harmony, not of give and take,” he said.

The Pir added that the new government would also launch inquiries into the spate of recent fire incidents at various important locations as well as “other acts of wrongdoing.”

Resolutions demanding the government declare April 4 —Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s death anniversary — and Dec 27, the date of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, as national holidays were also passed at the meeting.