KARACHI: The provincial assembly on Tuesday warned the federal government against provincial autonomy rollback by delaying implementation of the 18th amendment to the Constitution that the house said would have serious consequences for the federation.

The house also recommended to the Sindh government that it approach the federal government in order to restrain it from using delaying tactics in devolution of power and resources.

This was stated in a private resolution passed unanimously when put to the house after a brief speech by Senior Minister for Education Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, who tabled the resolution out of turn under Rule 123 of the rules of procedure of the provincial assembly.

Other lawmakers were also keen to express their views on the resolution, but could not to do so for want of time.

The resolution reads: “This assembly recalls that the 18th constitutional amendment was passed unanimously by Pakistan Parliament; reaffirms its commitment to the 18th constitutional amendment and in particular the process of devolution; regrets that efforts are afoot to rollback the provincial autonomy given under the 18th constitutional amendment; observes that the creation of the national curriculum council after the abolition of the concurrent list is ultra vires of the constitution; further observes that a rollback in the health, education and other sectors is unconstitutional.”

The resolution added that the assembly warned that “any deviation or rollback of the 18th constitutional amendment will have serious consequences for the federation.

Establishment of the national council of curriculum criticised

“Therefore, the Sindh Assembly resolves and recommends to the Sindh government to approach the federal government to refrain [it] from all delaying tactics in the way of implementation of the 18th constitutional amendment in its true letter and in spirit which, otherwise may prove detrimental to the provincial harmony.”

Recalling the history of the 1973 Constitution, which was adopted unanimously, Mr Khuhro said the concurrent list, which was part of the constitution, was due to be reviewed in 1983 after 10 years from the passage of the Constitution but in 1977 military dictator Gen Ziaul Haq held the Constitution in abeyance.

He said the smaller provinces had made an arduous struggle under the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy to restore the Constitution and get back their rights and provincial autonomy.

HEC, curriculum council

Mr Khuhro said the formation of the national council of curriculum was against the powers devolved to the provinces under the 18th amendment. He said that the Sindh government after the 18th amendment had initiated preparing curriculum at the provincial level, but it was not allowed to exercise its power.

Similarly, funds were not being released for the Provincial Higher Education Commission which after devolution was the domain of the province.

The assembly also adopted a resolution tabled by Dr Sohrab Sarki, recommending that the Sindh government approach the federal government to ensure that the Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Service Corporation (Pasco) procure paddy at the minimum rate of Rs1,200 per 40 kg for Irri-6 as the dwindling prices of paddy in the market pushed the growers into insurmountable difficulties.

The resolution, which was also moved out of turn with the signatures of over a dozen lawmakers, was endorsed by PPP parliamentary party leader Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, MQM parliamentary party leader Syed Sardar Ahmad and Nusrat Sehar Abbasi of the PML-F in their speeches.

Unlike the last year rates of Rs1,200 and Rs2,400 per 40kg of Irri-6 and Super rice, respectively, their prices were lowered in the market to Rs800 and Rs900, the lawmakers said. The prices were reduced despite the rising cost of fertilizer, seeds and harvest.

They called upon the federal government to intervene by asking Pasco to procure the paddy and provide facilities to growers.

The house also passed two more resolutions tabled by Kamran Akhtar to initiate a crackdown against the “fake faith healers” who were playing with the lives of innocent people.

Polio day

Another resolution, which was tabled by Khwaja Izharul Hasan, asked the provincial government to observe “Polio Awareness Day” on Oct 24 and launch awareness programmes at all levels in Sindh province particularly at government and private schools as well as at public places in all the districts of Sindh.

The house, which was called to order at 11.30am, could not complete the business on the order of the day by 4pm when deputy speaker Syeda Shehla Raza called it a day to meet again on Wednesday at 10am.

Published in Dawn December 10th , 2014