KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Monday echoed with brutal murders of Nazim Jokhio and Fahmida Sial with members from both sides of the aisle strongly condemned the incidents demanding justice to the victims’ families.

Denunciation of the tragic incidents, allegations and counter-allegations and exchange of harsh words by both treasury and opposition members at the outset of the proceedings during dua continued in the house for nearly one hour as Deputy Speaker Rehana Leghari kept on reminding the members that they were not supposed to deliver speeches during the time meant for offering dua, but it vain.

The situation took an ugly turn when the members of combined opposition, comprising Paksitan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Grand Democratic Alliance and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan chanted anti-government slogans when the chair switched off the microphone of Opposition Leader Haleem Adil Sheikh after his heated remarks.

Sheikh, like other members, rose to make dua and started taking a jibe at the provincial government over the two killing incident.

Minister says actual number of labourers working in province still not known

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla also stood to counter him and said that the opposition was doing politics on bodies. He referred to killing of four policemen in Punjab and retorted that such incidents were also highly deplorable and they should also be discussed in the house.

While Chawla was still on the floor, the PTI members started chanting slogans for the victims. They were also carrying placards inscribed with pictures of Nazim Jokhio.

Nusrat Sehar Abbasi of the GDA came down heavily on treasury benches, demanding resignation of the chief minister over the two incidents. She was of the view that a full assembly session should be held to discuss the two incidents.

The chair had to switch off her microphone too as she also kept on criticising the provincial government during dua.

Over a dozen members from the two sides were allowed by the chair to offer dua.

Over 0.6m workers registered with SESSI

Later, while replying to lawmakers’ written and verbal queries during Question Hour, Labour and Human Resources Minister Saeed Ghani informed the house that 644,616 workers had been registered with the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI).

He, however, conceded that actual number of labourers working in the province was still not known.

He said that in case of accident or any mishap, SESSI was providing injury benefit, disablement gratuity, disabled pension to the secured workers.

“Death compensation of Rs500,000 is also being provided to the legal heirs of deceased workers,” he added.

To a supplementary question, he said that the industrial units where five or more workers were employed was registered with SESSI under the law.

Mr Ghani said that Sindh Workers Welfare Board was also providing education to the workers’ children through 22 institutions across the province.

In reply to a verbal question, he said that the provincial government’s decision to enhance minimum wages up to Rs25,000 would be implemented from July as directed by the high court.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2021