KARACHI, March 14: Expressing concern over a delay in the convening of the Sindh Assembly session, the Pakistan People’s Party’s MPAs-elect have demanded that the session be called forthwith.

This was stated by the PPP’s leader of the parliamentary party in the Sindh Assembly, Pir Mazharul Haq, at a press conference held at his residence here on Friday. The press conference was preceded by a session of the parliamentary party held to chalk out the party’s line of action in the assembly.

Over 60 MPAs took part in the meeting while Pir Mazhar was accompanied by chief minister designate Syed Qaim Ali Shah, assembly speaker designate and former leader of the opposition Nisar Khuhro, Jam Saifullah Dharejo and Murad Ali Shah as he spoke to the media.

“Why has the Sindh Assembly session not yet been called? Why has the caretaker chief minister not yet sent the summary to the governor so that the session can be summoned? We are watching the situation carefully and demand that the session be called immediately. It can even be called during the holidays as per the rules of procedure,” said Pir Mazhar, reading out the resolution, probably referring to the holidays announced for Eid-Miladun-Nabi (PBUH) and Pakistan Day (March 23).

He said that as soon as the session was called, the legislators would get down to business and form standing committees. He added that the two areas of legislation that would get immediate attention would be the Sindh Disposal of Urban Land Ordinance, 2002, as well as the appointment of the chairman of the Sindh Public Service Commission, along with other laws that would be in the “people’s interest.”

Pir Mazhar said efforts would be made to improve the Disposal of Urban Land Ordinance, which was repealed in November 2005.

He said that MPAs attending the meeting also offered fateha for the party’s “martyred” workers as well as for party activist Mazhar Baloch, who died early Friday morning in Islamabad, adding that various party leaders could not attend as they were busy with Mr Baloch’s funeral arrangements.

When asked by journalists what the party planned to do about Karachi’s current power crisis, the Pir said resolving the issue would be a top priority. He was also asked if the future relationship with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement came under discussion at the meeting, to which he replied in the negative.