KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Tues­day adopted a resolution asking the provincial government to approach the federal government to ensure that power companies stop unannounced loadshedding in the province.

Earlier, lawmakers expressing their views on the private resolution burst with anger over unannounced loadshedding, inflated bills and the allegations of power theft hurled against the people of Sindh by the federal minister for power.

The legislators were speaking on the private resolution tabled by PPP lawmaker Ghazala Sial. It was one of the five resolutions on the order of the day. Terming the attitude of the power companies, including K-Electric, inhuman, they said the power companies not only deprived the people of electricity but also water besides accusing the power companies of issuing inflated bills to their consumers. The lawmakers demanded that KE representatives be called to appear before the standing committee of Sindh Assembly on energy for accountability.

After the speeches of a few legislators across the floor, Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani suggested to the legislators to lodge an FIR against the power utility to initiate an action against all its wrongdoings.

The private resolution recommended to the Sindh government to approach the federal government to direct /bound the power supply companies working in the province to stop the unannounced loadshedding.

In her speech, Ms Sial expressed her indignation over prolonged power interruption while referring to the tall claims made by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif that the PML-N government would overcome the menace of loadshedding within three months. She said despite remaining in power for the past three years even in the centre, there was no respite from outages. She said minister of state Abid Sher Ali accused people of power theft whenever he paid a visit to Sindh.

Referring to the summer forecast, PPP lawmaker Shamim Mumtaz the KE’s role would be more important in the scenario as power outages affected water supply. She alleged that the KE had collected up to Rs70 billion through overbilling but it was not prepared to adjust the amount while using dilly-dallying tactics.

MQM lawmaker Syed Khalid Ahmad said the KE was not only indulging in excess billing but also pursuing an anti-Sindh and anti-Karachi policy by recruiting staff from other provinces.

The private resolution, which was tabled by Ms Sial, when put to vote was carried unanimously.

University campus

Earlier, the house also adopted a resolution after a modification calling for the immediate establishment of the city campus of Sindh University, Jamshoro, at the Old Campus Model School and directing all the latest/modern departments of the university to conduct their classes on the city campus. Tabled by MQM lawmaker Engineer Sabir Hussain Kaimkhani, the resolution was backed not only by Syed Sardar Ahmad and Muhammad Hussain of the MQM but also Senior Education Minister Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, who said the PPP was not opposed to higher education as was seen last Tuesday when the assembly had adopted a resolution to grant university status to Government College, Kali Morri, Hyderabad.

The education minister said he was not against the idea of opening a KU campus in Hyderabad or an SU campus in Karachi. There existed a law that allowed the universities to set up at least their two campuses in other cities, he said, adding that the KU was asked to establish its campuses in Naushahro Feroz and Mitthi.

The resolution stated that thousands of students after completing their college education could not pursue higher studies in the absence of a government sector university in Hyderabad. In view of the dire need of a university, the house resolved that a city campus be established at the Old Campus Model School immediately.The house also adopted a resolution, moved by PTI lawmaker Dr Seema Zia, seeking a ban on the import, sale and purchase of beetle nut and gutka across the province.

Holi, Dewali & Easter

Similarly, the provincial assembly also adopted the resolution tabled by PML-F lawmaker Nand Kumar to permanently declare Holi, Dewali and Easter public holidays for the religious minorities whereby salaries be paid in advance to the employees belonging to the non-Muslim communities.

However, the resolution tabled by lawmaker Syed Mohammad Rashid Shah seeking issuance of at least three licences of prohibited bore to each member of the provincial assembly was dropped after it was opposed by Senior Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Nisar Ahmad Khuhro.

The house, which was called to order at 11.15am by Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, was adjourned to meet on Friday at 10am after transaction of other business including administration of oath to recently elected MQM lawmaker Faisal Rafique, questions hour on the health department, a privilege motion and an adjournment motion.

The privilege motion of PPP lawmaker Rehana Leghari was referred to the committee on rules of procedure and privileges regarding CIA official in charge Sajawal Bahadur Jamali for misbehaving with the MPA.

PML-F lawmaker Imtaiz Shaikh did not press his adjournment motion about Rs90 million allocation for public schools upgrade programme after a detailed statement from the education minister.

On a point of order of leader of the opposition Khwaja Izhar-ul-Hasan to have a pre-budget discussion in the house to include in the annual development programme the schemes suggested by lawmakers, Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said it was decided to have such discussion for five days from next Monday.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2016