KARACHI: The first day of the current session of the Sindh Assembly on Friday was marred by pandemonium as the opposition Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) lodged a strong protest after it was denied by the chair to raise the issue of ‘poor’ results of the intermediate exams conducted by the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi (BIEK).

The situation took an unruly turn at the outset of the proceedings when MQM-P member Sabir Qaimkhani rose to seek permission of the chair to speak on a point of order.

As he was not allowed by acting speaker Anthony Naveed, all MQM-P members rose and strongly protested, chanting slogans against the exam results.

The acting speaker told the protesters that their member would be given time to address the house after conclusion of Question Hour.

House experiences unruly situation after the chair denied MQM-P chance to raise inter students’ issue

But his offer did not appease the protesting opposition members, who continued chanting slogans against the “partial” behaviour of the chair.

While the MQM-P members did not stop their protest during the entire proceedings, the house carried out the assembly business amid the ruckus.

After the quick Question Hour proceedings, the acting speaker reminded the protesting members that he had assured them to give time, but they behaved irresponsibly.

In his effort to alleviate the situation, the chair gave the floor to Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi, who said the opposition would keep on protesting if they were not given opportunity to point out the people’s problems. “This assembly meets to discuss the public issues,” he said.

Later, MQM-P member Ziaul Haq was allowed by the chair to speak on a point of order.

Lambasting the provincial government, he said injustice was being done to the students of Karachi as students who got ‘A-1 grade’ in their matriculation exams were declared ‘fail’ in their first year exam by the BIEK.

While the MQM-P member was still standing, the chair switched off his microphone and went ahead with the remaining assembly business on agenda.

A privilege motion of Pakistan Peoples Party member Syed Marvi Faseeh regarding “unprofessional, rude and aggressive” attitude of Special Education Deputy Secretary Taha Farooqui to her could not be taken up as she was not present in the house.

The adjournment motion seeking robust policies from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to ensure exceptional mobile call quality and internet services in the province was deferred to the next private members day for one-hour discussion.

The first bill of the year — The Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Institute for Democracy and Federalism Bill, 2024 — was also introduced in the house by Law and Parliamentary Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar.

The bill was referred to the standing committee concerned for deliberation and it would be presented in the house after 10 days.

The MQM-P members continued their protest and tore the copies of assembly agenda, as the house was adjourned to Monday.

Later, talking to parliamentary reporters at the Media Corner on the premises of the assembly, Opposition Leader Ali Khurshidi vehemently criticised the treasure benches.

He said the party represented the city and other urban centres of the province and people of opposition members’ constituencies expected their public representative to voice their problems in the assembly.

Mr Khurshidi deplored that the opposition was not allowed to raise the issues of the city. “We wanted to discuss the injustice being done with the students of Karachi,” he said and added that the attitude of the rulers was shameful.

He said that it appeared to be a “systematic design” and an “organised move” to keep the youngsters of the urban areas behind in the education sector. “We will not accept it not give up until the logical resolution of the issue,” he vowed.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2025