KARACHI, March 17: The Sindh government and the provincial chapter of the Pakistan People's Party had neither planned a strike nor had they given a strike call for March 11 against the Supreme Court's order for the removal of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Syed Deedar Hussain Shah.

This was declared by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who is also the provincial chief of the PPP, while making a statement in the Sindh Assembly on Thursday.

He dispelled the impression that the March 11 strike in Sindh was sponsored or backed by his government or the party, and termed it “a spontaneous public reaction”.

About the resolution passed by the assembly on the eve of the strike, Mr Shah said it was critical of (Pakistan Muslim League leader) Chaudhry Nisar Ali and was moved in accordance with the rules of procedure.

Similarly, he clarified, the speeches made by MPAs in support of the resolution were also intended for the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, adding that it was the privilege of the house.

“The house gives its members the right to criticise politicians and pass resolutions against them,” he said referring to certain rules, and pointed out that moving, discussing and passing such resolutions was a routine practice in elected houses, including the Punjab Assembly.

The chief minister categorically stated: “We did not pass any remark against the (SC) judgment; neither was there a mention of the judiciary in the resolution that was passed and also published in newspapers.”

He said that PPP had waged a long struggle and given a lot of sacrifices for the independence of the judiciary. “We have great respect for the Supreme Court, high courts and lower courts. However, we have to function strictly in accordance with the constitution,” he said.

Mr Shah said that legislation was the responsibility of parliament, interpreting the law was the responsibility of the judiciary and executing the law was the responsibility of the executive. All the three institutions had to work within their parameters and within the framework of the constitution, he added.

Referring to the 18th and 19th constitutional amendments, Mr Shah said the credit for their unanimous approval went to the PPP-led government and its leader, President Asif Ali Zardari. He said the two amendments restored the constitution in its original shape.

The chief minister spoke of the economic crisis and a law and order problem and several other crises being faced by the country, and expressed his optimism that the PPP leadership would be able to steer the country out of all these crises with the support of the masses.

Mr Shah also lauded the political acumen of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and MQM chief Altaf Hussain with which they managed to keep their bilateral relationship afloat.

He hoped that the coalition that had been functioning smoothly for the past three years would remain intact.

Later, Speaker Nisar Khuhro, who had called the house in order at 10:35am, completed the order of the day before reading out the governor's order proroguing the session at 1:10 pm.

The house unanimously passed the Shahdadpur Institute of Medical Sciences Bill, 2011.

It also paid tribute to Shaheed Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashdi alias Sooriah Badshah for his undaunted stand and unceasing freedom struggle against the British Raj. A joint resolution in this respect was read out by Marvi Rashdi after over two dozens lawmakers spoke to eulogize his services. The resolution was unanimously passed by the house.

MQM parliamentary party leader Syed Sardar Ahmad spoke about his party's 27th founding anniversary being observed on Friday. He paid tribute to the people of Karachi and Hyderabad for offering great sacrifices for the cause of the downtrodden. Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, on behalf of the Sindh government and the PPP, and Marvi Rashdi of the PML-F, on behalf of her party, felicitated the MQM on its founding day.

The house also prayed for the early recovery of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and his wife Kulsoom Nawaz.

On behalf of the assembly, the speaker and a dozen other legislators welcomed a delegation comprising participants of the National Defence College workshop who attended the house proceedings held in the assembly's hall where Father of the Nation Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah had presided over the first session of the first legislative assembly, the Pakistan Resolution was adopted and the national flag was unfurled on August 10, 1947.