KARACHI: The opposition’s agenda was effectively sidelined on private members’ day in the Sindh Assembly on Tuesday, with only one out of five private resolutions being approved, while the rest bit the dust.

The house unanimously passed Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s Najam Mirza’s resolution on implementing the Sindh Prevention and Control of Thalassaemia Act 2013 to tackle thalassaemia in the province.

The MQM-P lawmaker highlighted the disease’s impact, saying it was hollowing out our future generations.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Zia Lanjar supported the resolution, citing the government’s establishment of free thalassaemia centres across the province.

Lanjar opposes motion to discuss Gul Plaza tragedy, urges members to await inquiry reports

Later, members from both sides of the aisle voted in favour of the opposition lawmaker’s resolution.

A frustrating day for opposition

It was a frustrating day for opposition members as a joint privilege motion of seven MQM-P lawmakers, an adjournment motion of Jamaat-i-Islami’s (JI) member and two private motions of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) were also scrapped.

JI’s Muhammad Farooq moved an adjournment motion, seeking a discussion on the Gul Plaza tragedy to identify those responsible for the negligence.

He argued that Monday’s discussion was insufficient, with only a few members speaking on the issue and called for a comprehensive discussion.

Minister Lanjar opposed the motion, stating that the issue had already discussed in the house.

He added that a committee had been formed to investigate the devastating fire incident.

He emphasised waiting for the committee’s report, saying the house should consider the facts presented in it.

Later, the JI lawmaker withdrew his adjournment motion.

PTI’s Parliamentary Leader Shabbir Qureshi’s resolution pushing for auction-based allotment of minerals and coal mines in the province at a new rate was rejected by the house.

The law minister opposed the resolution, questioning the cancellation of existing allotments and advising the PTI member to rework the resolution properly.

Mr Qureshi’s other private motion seeking a comprehensive plantation programme to plant environment-friendly and native tree species along river and canal embankments was also rejected.

The MQM-P lawmakers – Arsalan Perwaiz, Syed Farhan Ansari, Syed Muhammad Usman, Moid Anver, Muhammad Aamir Siddiqui, Faisal Rafiq and Muhammad Daniyal – withdrew their privilege motion against East Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nasarullah Abbasi after the law minister promised to look into their grievance. They had complained about the DC allegedly ignoring their calls and messages.

The house also voted down JI’s Farooq’s resolution to extend the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Red Line project from Numaish to Model Town cemetery and onwards to National Highway.

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon, who also holds the portfolio of the transport department, opposed the resolution and said the extension needed ECNEC approval, adding that he would definitely take it up.

Pakistan Peoples Party’s Asif Musa Gilani withdrew his resolution highlighting the impact of the transporters’ strike on Karachi Port and Port Qasim.

Mr Memon questioned the resolution’s purpose and said that the strike’s cause was linked to incidents involving transporters in Karachi.

Published in Dawn, January 21st, 2026