HYDERABAD, Jan 30: The Zila Council here on Wednesday went through a pleasant change as it conducted business of the day in a peaceful atmosphere on the second day.

It disposed of 12 resolutions, seven of them were unanimously passed, and four were referred to different sub-committees for review and consideration.

The proceedings of the house took place in a pin drop silence and the usual verbal bouts between the members were not there.

It was apparently due to the speech of the convener of the council, Nawab Rashid Ali Khan, to the members in a closed door session for more than 30 minutes, during the course of which the journalists were made to wait outside the council hall.

Dr Irfan Gul Magsi presented his two-page statement to the convenor in response to his directives on the issue of Chambar cattle bazaar, describing the motion moved by Lala Zahid Pathan out of agenda and malafide as the prayers made there were not within the duties/power of the Zila Council.

It said that Taluka Nazim, Municipal Administration, Tando Allahyar, was malafidely agitating the right of the union council, Chambar-I, to run its affairs, which were within territorial jurisdiction of his UC, before different forums. The matter is sub judice in the court of law in F.C. Suit no 55 of 199, pending in the court of Senior Civil Judge, Tando Allahyar, and the injunction order by the high court of Sindh is operative. Any resolution, passed to this effect will violate orders of the court and may invite contempt of court proceedings, it clarified.

The house passed unanimously a resolution, moved by Rana Mahmood Ali Khan, about the non-payment of the outstanding dues of workers of the Sindh Road Transport Corporation despite several commitments under the golden handshake scheme, landing them in financial trouble. It called upon the secretary for transport to make immediate payment of dues to the workers.

Abdul Qadeer Qazi, in one of his six resolutions, demanded of the Sindh government, suspension in the recovery of agricultural loans and mark-up thereof agricultural income tax for two years and abolition of land tax.

The resolutions, passed by the house, expressed grave concern that the agriculture sector had faced so many problems during the last three years on account of water shortage and it had been admitted that 45 per cent water shortage was witnessed last year and this year it was expected up to 60 per cent.

The resolution, calling for a ban on the sale of tobaccos like Mainpuri and Gutka which were injurious to health according to authentic reports, was also passed.

The house also passed another resolution of Qadeer Qazi which said that time period should be specified throughout Hyderabad district for the business of video/computer games and carom boards because these were attracting the school going kids during school hours, adversely affecting their education.

The members said that the police should be bound to enforce the ban strictly on the mini cinema houses and other such activities where ill-mannered people gathered till late in the night.

The resolution about the allotment of Sabzi Mandi was referred to the agricultural committee. It said that the growers who had deposited 60 per cent prices of the shops had not been given allotment while the businessmen had taken over possession of their shops.

The house unanimously passed a resolution pertaining to the oil and gas exploration companies, calling upon them to participate in the welfare and development of the district, as they get huge quantity of oil and gas from different parts of the district.

Another resolution with regard to the proposed privatization of a government hospital in Kohsar extension was also unanimously passed, opposing the privatization of the hospital. It was based on a statement of the Sindh minister for health, Ahsan Ahmed.

Dr Najeeb Memon drew attention of the chair that similar rumours were in circulation about a Qasimabad hospital, which was also included in the resolution.

The house deferred for the next session a resolution of Rana Mahmood Ali Khan about worsening law and order situation and the complete failure of the police in combating crime. The convenor said that issues of law and order and those of inflated bills would be jointly discussed when the Hesco and police officials would be present.

The resolutions about the ownership rights of residents of Nizamuddin Auliya colony, coupled with regularization of different katcha abadis in the city and Latifabad and about allotment orders to the residents living in the area of UC-18, were passed.

It called upon the Sindh government to review these cases as it would get financial benefits.

The resolutions about scheme of filter plant for Paretabad and Hyder Shah colony were referred to HDA and Katcha Abadis committees.