KARACHI, June 26: The Sindh Assembly approved 59 demands for grants of over Rs205.959 billion for the financial year 2007-08 while the opposition staged a walkout after the voting on the first demand saying that the demands for grants could not be clubbed together to put to vote at once.

The opposition had participated in the voting on the demand of grant of over Rs1.959 billion regarding the organs of the state, which was approved by voice votes. The opposition staged a walkout when Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah gave the ruling that the word ‘motions’ would be interpreted as demands for grants under the Rule 126(2) of the Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly.

The opposition legislators said there was no mention of the “demand for grants” in the rule and the demands could not be clubbed together to put to vote at a time. Following the opposition’s walkout, the assembly unanimously approved 58 demands for grants of over Rs204 billion.

Against the demand, which was put to vote, there were 358 cut motions, moved by 19 members of the joint opposition. The discussion on the demand continued from 2.30pm to 8.15pm.

In all, 660 cut motions were moved by 28 members of the opposition against 59 demands for grants. The highest number of motions were moved by Shazia Marri numbering 204, including 124 on the first demand, while Murad Ali Shah had moved 104 on the first demand.

Responding to the cut motions and speeches by the opposition members on the first demand, Senior Minister Syed Sardar Ahmad said that the subject matter was not so lengthy on which 358 cut motions were moved. He said the exercise was a requirement of the system under which “you move cut motions and we reply” but without any outcome of the discussion it became futile.

The minister touched on all major objections on the demand and justified the NFC award given by President under Article 160 (6).

Responding to the criticism on police, he said the entire police system had been changed after the promulgation of Police Order 2001. He said Rs19 billion allocated for the police department included vehicles, mobiles and other equipment to modernise the policing system.

On another point, he said the salaries of doctors, teachers and hospital expenditures though were mentioned in non-development expenditures, it was all development expenditure in all respect.

In the cut motions, the opposition had criticised the allocation of Rs19 billion for police pointing out its performance on May 12 when 48 people were gunned down on Sharea Faisal and police were found nowhere.

Nisar Khuhro suggested that 50 per cent allocation should be made for development and non-development schemes.

Shazia Marri said a huge amount could be saved by curtailing non-development expenses.

Murad Ali Shah said operating expenditure of the Chief Minister’s House had gone up from over Rs0.55 million to Rs4.5 million. Shama Mithani, Humera Alwani, Makhdoom Jamil-uz Zaman also raised points.

After approval of the demand for grants for 2007-08, the house was adjourned till Wednesday at 9.30 am.