KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly expressing concern over the pathetic condition of public transport on Tuesday demanded that the government take all possible measures to ensure safety of passengers.

The demand was made through a resolution that was piloted by Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker Syed Khalid Ahmad and adopted unanimously by the house after over a dozen speakers expressed their views on the public transport system in Karachi.

The lawmakers said Karachi, the country’s financial hub, gave an impression as if there existed no authority to check fitness of public transport, maintenance of emergency exit gate, a fire extinguisher and a first aid box.

Buses plying on intercity routes carried passengers beyond their capacity, while most of the buses and coaches plying across the city with obsolete bodies and no safety measures in place were over two decades old, they said. There was not only shortage of buses but their condition was also bad, they said.

In case of a tragedy, the lawmakers said, the heirs of commuters were not paid any compensation by the owners.

Legislators Mohammad Hussain, Dr Sohrab Sarki, Aamir Moin Peerzada, Nasir Hussain Shah, Dr Sikander Mandhro, Syed Sardar Ahmad, Khwaja Izharul Hasan, Pessumal, Dr Kamali, Rauf Siddiqui, Nusrat Sehar Abbasi, Nand Kumar, and Deewan Chand Chaowla spoke on the resolution.

A member of the panel of chairmen, Syed Murad Ali Shah, who was presiding over the session, asked the minister to bring necessary legislation to empower the relevant departments.

Transport Minister Mumtaz Hussain Jakhrani said the department had through advertisement in newspapers had asked transporters to get the emergency exit gates in their vehicles restored by Feb 12, keep first aid boxes and hammers in the vehicles so that in case of accidents the windowpanes could be broken and injured could be given first aid.

The minister demanded that the transport department be given powers to grant route permits, issue fitness certificate and driving licences.

SDA, entry tests

The house also carried a resolution tabled by Naheed Begum of the MQM when put to a vote after speeches by lawmakers for the establishment of the Sukkur Development Authority for Sukkur.

The resolution moved by MQM lawmaker Dr Zafar Ahmad Khan Kamali, which was also adopted unanimously, demanded that in all medical colleges entry tests be conducted through reputable examination bodies such as NTS and IBA.

The adjournment motion of PML-F lawmaker Nusrat Sehar Abbasi about the historical Chatori Graveyard in Mirpurkhas was withdrawn by its mover after parliamentary affairs minister Dr Sikander Mandhro informed her that the motion did not meet certain requirements. However, the minister said that repair work would be undertaken within 15 days as the government had allocated Rs55.11 million to protect the graveyard belonging to the period of the Mirs and Talpurs.

Of the two private bills, the Sindh Institute of Management and Technology Bill, 2015 which was tabled by PPP lawmaker Tariq Masood, was passed after minor changes while The Sindh Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill whose notice was given by Syed Khalid Ahmad was referred to the standing committee concerned.

The privilege motion of PPP lawmaker Mir Allah Bux Talpur about schoolteachers transfer was referred to the committee on rules of procedure and privileges by the chair, as the motion was not opposed by Senior Education Minister Nisar Ahmad Khuhro.

Shikarpur tragedy: cheques returned

On a point of order, PML-F lawmaker Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh drew attention of the house towards the long march, led by the committee of the Shikarpur tragedy martyrs, and said that Sindh Bank refused to cash the compensation cheques reportedly on government instruction.

He asked the finance minister to clarify government position on the development.

Mr Shiakh also suggested to the government to send another delegation to the marchers for talks after the Bhitshah negotiations failed.

Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah denied that any such instruction had been issued to the bank and said he would check with the bank.

Senior Minister Nisar Khuhro, however, informed the house that the chief minister had formed a delegation that met the protesters in Bhitshah on Monday night. He said the Shikarpur tragedy was not the first incident. Yet the government took every possible measure to minimise their agony by sending the injured to major hospitals such as Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi and those in Larkana and Pano Aqil. Besides, he claimed the Sindh government took measures to pre-empt such bomb attacks in future.

Mr Khuhro regretted the attitude of those leading the long march. He said the government delegation comprising Deputy Speaker Syeda Shahela Raza and Jam Khan Shoro met them in Bhitshah where they had a stopover last night. He said despite giving them the assurance that the “delegation was prepared to listen to and consider their demands”, they refused to hold talks before reaching Karachi.

Mr Khuhro said they had 13 demands including army operation, demolition of shops opposite the Imambargah and construction of protecting wall around the Imambargah, jobs for the heirs of the martyrs, surveillance and arrest of those involved in the attack. He said the delegation agreed to all their demands, including the launch of an operation on the pattern of the ongoing targeted operations in Karachi, but they insisted that they would hold final talks after reaching the metropolis.

He appealed to the lawmakers who were in favour of talks with the marchers to join in the talks.

Deputy Speaker Syeda Shehla Raza who chaired the session adjourned the house, which was called to order at 10.35am, at 2.35pm for Friday.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2015

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