KARACHI, Oct 1: The Sindh Assembly passed on Monday the new local government law amid uproar as lawmakers belonging to the estranged coalition partners, who have parted ways over the promulgation of the Sindh People’s Local Government Ordinance, 2012, raised slogans against the bill and staged a sit-in on the floor of the house, while major cities and towns in the interior of the province remained shut on a call by nationalist parties in protest against the law.

Enraged protesters blocked roads, burnt tyres and demonstrated on roads in the interior of the province during the strike called by the Sindh Bachayo Committee and Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz.

After the passage of the bill, the agitating legislators staged a walkout from the assembly while the floor was given to make speeches on the adjournment motion of MQM minister Syed Sardar Ahmad. Following the adoption of the resolution, the house was prorogued.

The lawmakers opposing the bill first gathered outside the speaker’s office and after raising slogans moved towards the steps of the assembly building where they staged a brief sit-in.

Speaker Nisar Ahmad Khuhro after failing to convince the opponents of the bill to take their seats ignored the uproar and gave the floor to the law minister saying that under the rules of business he could not allow the members of the house to speak from the place other than their allotted seats. —Staff Reporter