KARACHI, Sept 11: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim said that the no-confidence motion against the deputy speaker of the Sindh Assembly, Raheela Tiwana, was comprehensively defeated as was expected.

He was speaking at a news conference at the Chief Minister’s House here on Monday evening.

Members of the provincial assembly and Ms Raheela Tiwana were also present on the occasion.

Dr Arbab was of the view that the opposition also knew well that it would not succeed but it went ahead with the no-confidence motion as its sole objective was to try and 'disturb' the government so that it could not fully concentrate on relief measures in the rain-hit localities of the province..

The chief minister said that this was the fourth no-confidence motion against the present government at the provincial and the federal level but there was no panic, no horse trading and things were going on in a smooth manner.

Dr Arbab added that no cabinet member would be relieved of his responsibility. He said that the opposition did not accept Ms Tiwana since her election as the deputy speaker.

The chief minister said that there had been a rapid development in Sindh during the government of President Musharraf.

He said that there was a record road construction in Sindh and that this was unprecedented in the history of the province. These, he added, included district to district roads, farm to market roads and smaller roads providing approach to villages.

Referring to the heavy rains in the province, he informed that he had visited the rain-hit areas on Sunday and ordered a permanent and proper planning for Hyderabad to avoid such a situation in the future.

The chief minister recalled that President Musharraf had approved Rs10 billion for Hyderabad.

Dr Arbab informed that the Provincial Relief Commissioner had withdrawn Rs70 million for the provision of relief in the rain-hit areas. He said that a sum of Rs200 million was allocated in the budget for the purpose.

The chief minister said that he had issued directive that Rs20 million be released for Hyderabad for food items and for the purchase of machines for pumping out the accumulated rainwater.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Tiwana thanked the chief minister and the coalition partners for frustrating the opposition’s no-confidence motion against her. She was of the view that it was the moral and legal victory of the PML and its allies.

Ms Tiwana accused the PPP of threatening her and she termed this as old tactics of the PPP.

—APP