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KARACHI, Nov 13: The City Council on Tuesday, amid a walkout by opposition members, approved a unanimous resolution calling for the immediate unseating of those members who were also holding office in any political party.
The resolution was moved by the treasury benches in the absence of opposition members who staged a walkout from the house for not being allowed to debate the issues of imposition of emergency rule, unconstitutional removal of superior court judges and crackdown against political activists.
Quoting Sections 39, 40 and 41 of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2001 (SLGO), the resolution pointed out that the prime responsibility of the council members was to discuss problems pertaining to the city and make suggestions for their solutions. “These members also took an oath at the time of elections stating that they had no affiliation to any political party,” the council, through the resolution, said, adding that despite being members of the house some members were holding political office, thereby violating the provisions of the SLGO 2001.
It urged the Sindh Local Commission and the Election Commission of Pakistan to cancel the membership of those members who were violating provisions of the SLGO by holding political office.
Earlier, when the house resumed its session, opposition leaders Saeed Ghani and Abdul Razak stood up on a point of order and drew the attention of the chair – Ms Nasreen Jalil – towards the resolution which they had submitted during the last session regarding the imposition of emergency rule and promulgation of the Provisional Constitution Order.
Upon this, the chair told the protesting opposition members that there were other important resolutions, including the one related to the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), that should be debated. She insisted that the house take up these issues first as they pertained to the welfare of the people.
But the opposition members did not agree with her, arguing that nothing was more important than the fundamental rights of the citizens, after which they started to raise slogans against President Musharraf. They alleged that a “dictator” had snatched away the rights of the people of Pakistan by imposing “marshal law-type emergency rule in the country”, thereby threatening its stability and solidarity.
Cry freedom
There was uproar when the leader of the house Asif Siddiqui tried to counter the opposition’s allegation, saying that those who entered the country as the result of a deal were now crying for freedom while there were no restrictions on their movement as they were freely holding meetings and rallies.Mr Siddiqui argued that the opposition had always tried to turn the City Council into a political battleground, whereas it was purely a non-political forum meant for finding solutions to civic problems.
His speech was repeatedly interrupted by the opposition members who were shouting slogans against Gen Musharraf, calling him “a usurper of freedom.”
Upon this the presiding office intervened and called upon both sides of the divide to maintain the decorum of the house, saying that members should respect each others’ views. She suspended the session for 15 minutes.
When the house reassembled, treasury member Abdul Jalil pointed out to the chair that he had submitted an important resolution pertaining to the role of local bodies and members. But the opposition insisted that the house should take up its resolution.
The opposition resolution condemned the abrogation of the 1973 Constitution, imposition of emergency, removal of the superior courts’ judges, restrictions on the media and the crackdown against political workers. The resolution termed the action a “conspiracy against democracy” and demanded a return to the status quo pre-Nov 3, thereby releasing all those who were arrested, restoring superior court judges and withdrawing restrictions against the media. It also opposed the amendment in the Army Act.
The presiding officer tabled the resolution of the treasury benches, rejecting the objections of the opposition. Upon this the opposition members staged a walkout from the house.
Later, in the absence of the opposition, the house adopted the resolution unanimously moved by treasury members Saeed Khalil, Abdul Jalil and Sulman Baloch on the role of local bodies.
Five resolutions adopted
The house also adopted five other resolutions unanimously. A resolution pertaining to computerised data in civil registration management system (CRMS) passed by the house earlier, called for an extension till Dec 31, 2007, in the implementation of the agreement signed between the city government and Nadra. Through another resolution the council constituted a committee comprising members of the house representing their respective towns to make their suggestions on the Nadra resolution pertaining to the introduction of a data-based system of births, deaths, marriages and divorce.
The house also adopted a resolution on the issuance of district health calendar. The matter was referred to the executive district officer (law) for legal opinion.
Two other resolutions pertaining to financial and administrative matters – one enhancing the special allowance of the council officer of the city government from Rs10,000 to Rs20,000 – and another related to the approval of Rs10,000 each for monthly special allowances for the director of archaeology and research and secretariat of the city naib nazim.
Talking to newsmen, opposition leader Saeed Ghani, in reference to the resolution calling for the dismissal of council members holding political office, said he would be happy in case he was disqualified on this account. However, he maintained that the relevant sections of the SLGO were misquoted in the resolution.
He was of the view that there was no bar on any member of the council being affiliated to any political party. However, he said no member of the local body is allowed to use the resources of any political party during the election campaign.
