KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Monday witnessed a rumpus over the remarks by a minister that notorious terrorist Farooq Dada, who was killed in a targeted operation, was a driver of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board managing director.

While responding to the call attention notice of Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker Dr Zafar Ahmad Kamali, Sindh Local Government Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon also said that most of the hit men arrested during the Karachi operation were found to be working in the water board and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation.

Reacting sharply to the remarks, MQM Deputy Parliamentary Party leader Khwaja Izharul Hasan said that if the names of MQM martyrs, who were killed extrajudicially, were taken on the floor of the house, they, too, would not spare others.

Soon afterwards, other MQM lawmakers stood up and started hurling barbs at Pakistan Peoples Party legislators and commotion ensued.

Despite warnings from the chair, both sides continued to raise slogans such as ‘Ghunda gardi naheen chalegi’ and Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani had to have the mikes of both sides eventually switched off.

Even the call to Zuhr prayers was ignored in the charged atmosphere. Repeated requests by the chair to respect azan prevailed only when it was about to conclude.

Mr Memon while taking the floor of the house again after azan said he would speak the truth. Responding to his remarks, Khwaja Izhar said they too had enough truth to speak, leading to a renewed exchange of allegations in the house.

Addressing the agitating lawmakers of the MQM, Mr Durrani said it appeared as if they didn’t like to continue the business in the house. His observation made members from both sides resume their seats, as the speaker ordered that all non-parliamentary remarks against one another be expunged.

This was the first harsh exchange of remarks between PPP and MQM legislators after the latter parted ways with the PPP on Oct 19.

Earlier speaking on a call attention notice, Dr Zafar Ahmad Kamali asked the Sindh government about measures being taken to improve sanitary conditions in the province, particularly in Mirpurkhas. He also raised the issue of overstaffed local bodies institutions.

The minister responding to the MQM lawmaker said that despite good intentions of the government, the other side was indulging in political scoring. He said it was known to everyone who had destroyed the local bodies institutions and who was responsible for over-employment when merit was not taken into consideration. Those arrested during the targeted operation mostly belonged to the KMC and water board, including notorious Farooq Dada, who was also driver of the water board’s managing director.

Earlier, MQM lawmaker Raana Ansari by her call attention notice had drawn attention of the minister towards heaps of garbage in Hyderabad, overflowing sewers and their adverse effect on public health. “For God’s sake, attention should be paid to the city which used to be the cleanest and neatest city in the province,” she said.

Mr Memon conceded that there were sewerage and sanitary issues in Hyderabad and other parts of Sindh. But, he said, there was the issue of over-employment in Wasa and KWSB, as both were operating at a loss.

Another major cause for concern was that the employees collecting salaries were not working, while the government had been paying Rs50 million and Rs30 million to the KESC and Wasa, respectively, to pay power bills so that electricity should not be disconnected, he added.

He informed the house that he met the officials concerned as well as elected representatives of the PPP and MQM from Hyderabad and a committee was formed with powers to remove the employees who did not perform. He said the real problem had been inherited as there was no landfill site in Hyderabad.

However, he said, the government was working on a special package for the Hyderabad city.

A call attention notice of MQM legislator Kamran Akhtar was not responded by parliamentary affairs minister Dr Sikander Mandhro, arguing that it did not fall in the category of notice and should be asked as a written question.

A privilege motion of MQM lawmaker Syed Khalid Ahmad regarding KMC Administrator Akhtar Farouqi was admitted and referred to the standing committee on law and privileges, while the adjournment motion of Shahryar Mahar, leader of the opposition, was not opposed by the minister and admitted for a two-hour discussion on Wednesday.

Ebola threat, 12 bills

The house also unanimously passed a resolution tabled by Ghazala Sayal of the PPP, recommending that the Sindh government take precautionary measures to mitigate the threat of Ebola virus.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sikander Mandhro also introduced 12 government bills in the house. They were The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (Sindh Administration) Bill, Sindh Epidemic Diseases Bill, Sindh Eye Surgery (Restriction) Bill, Sindh Tuberculosis Notification Bill, Sindh Physiotherapy Council Bill, Sindh Arms (Amendment) Bill, Sindh Allopathic System Prevention of Misuse) Bill, Sindh Mass Transit Authority Bill, Sindh Senior Citizens Welfare Bill, Sindh Pharmacy Council Bill, Sindh Medical and Dental Council Bill and Sindh Nursing Council Bill, 2014.

The government bill pertaining to Sindh Condominium Bill was introduced and its consideration was deferred to the next session on a suggestion of MQM Parliamentary Leader Syed Sardar Ahmad.After completion of the business, the house, which was called to order at 11.15am was adjourned at 2.20pm till Tuesday.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2014