KARACHI, Nov 20: The Sindh Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution on Monday asking the Sindh government to approach the Centre for fixation of the price of paddy at Rs400 per 40kg.

Through another unanimously adopted resolution, it sought a comprehensive study to ascertain facts and suggest ways for betterment of farmers.

It was the last session of the current parliamentary year of the assembly which came to an end with the unanimous adoption of resolutions, moved out-of-turn by two opposition members, Anwar Mehar and Haji Munawwar Ali Abbasi of the PPP, while another motion and a resolution were not allowed as both were opposed by Law Minister Iftikhar Ahmad Chaudhry.

Before Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah could give floor to some other member, Sindh Mines and Minerals Minister Irfanullah Marwat said the scheduled time of the house business was over as it was around 2.25pm. On this some opposition members agitated. Dr Mehreen Bhutto, Hameedullah Khan and Sharfunnisa Leghari started waving papers containing their motions they wanted to move out-of-turn. Before the situation could lead to a rumpus, the chair announced the order of the governor to prorogue the House.

Through the unanimously adopted motion, Mr Mehar asked for conducting a comprehensive survey by the food and agriculture standing committee to ascertain facts and suggest ways and means for the betterment of farmers since a vast population depended solely on agriculture. The committee would submit its report to the House before the next session.

The resolution recommended the Sindh government to approach federal government to fix the rate of paddy and ask the Food and Agriculture Supplies Corporation to open its centres in the upper Sindh for purchase of paddy at the fixed rate.

In the motion, which was not allowed to be moved, Mr Khuhro had suggested the Sindh government to seek compensation from the federal government for the losses suffered from short supply of irrigation water.

In the resolution not allowed to be read out, Shazia Mari had suggested the Sindh government to approach the federal government to ask the PEMRA to withdraw the ban on Sindh TV and direct the cable operators not to stop its transmission as the ban amounts to restriction on freedom of expression.

Opposing the resolution, the law minister said there was no restriction on media, and over 40 more TV channels were in the pipeline. Had there been any restriction on media, people would not have been encouraged to start new channels. Besides, Federal Minister Durrani had already clarified that it was a matter of legal procedures and if the TV management fulfils the requirement, this issue would stand resolved, he pointed out.

Shazia Mari wanted to respond to the law minister, but when the chair did not allow her saying that her motion had been rejected, she agitated.

Abdul Rehman, through a point of order, drew the attention of the House towards the plight of 156 students of Dawood college who were not allowed to sit in final year exam by the NED university. He also raised the issue of increase in bus fares on Hyderabad-Karachi route, and criticised the release of a convict, Mirza Tahir, who was involved in the murder of a taxi driver.

Begum Gulzar Unnar drew the attention of the House towards the birth anniversary of Pir Pagara falling on Nov 22 and said the government should commemorate the birth anniversaries of those who had rendered valuable services.

Earlier, the House was called to order by the Speaker at 11.40am.

Soon after Fateha was offered for federal minister of state for cabinet division late Mehmood Ali and others, there was an exchange of arguments between the speaker and Leader of the Opposition, Nisar Khuhro, who was seeking permission to speak on his motion, but the chair gave the ruling that any matter, including point of order, would be taken only after question hour.

The chair repeatedly asked Mr Khuhro to take his seat, but when he did not comply, half-a-dozen members, Rafique Engineer, Shazia Mari, Sassui Palejo, Dr Mehreen Bhutto, Nasrullah Shaji, Maulana Omar Sadiq from the opposition, stood up and started speaking, while from the treasury side, Iftikhar Chaudhry, Mohammad Hussain, Qamar Mansoor and Irfan Marwat stood up to counter the opposition and for 10 minutes there was rumpus in the House.

After failure of the chair to persuade Mr Khuhro at 12.05pm, the speaker warned the member that if he would not take his seat, he would read out the order of the governor. This warning worked and discipline was restored in the House to take up the question hour till Zuhr break only to resume the session at 2pm.