SHIKARPUR, April 27: Differences surfaced between the Mahar and Shaikh groups when members belonging to the Mahar group boycotted a district council session called by convener Zafar Ali of the Shaikh group. Mahar group members did not attend the session though they were inside the district council building. They alleged that the session was conducted in violation of rules and quorum was also incomplete.

The session was called by the convener to discuss the alleged misuse of Rs800 million by the district government and other corruption cases.

The council adopted a resolution demanding a probe into misuse of funds in its meeting on Monday, while on Tuesday no meeting could be held due to lack of quorum. The convener postponed the session for an indefinite period.

Soon after the postponement, members of the Mahar group held another session which was presided over by Inayatullah Umrani. However, that session too was postponed due to lack of quorum.

Members who attended the second session termed the proceedings of the session presided over by convener Zafar Ali Shaikh illegal.

EDO law Mushtaq Ali Shah told members that according to the Sindh Local Government Ordinance and rules of business, the proceedings of the sessions conducted by the convener on Monday and Tuesday were illegal.

The EDO said the convener could neither table a resolution nor caste his vote during voting.

Talking to reporters after the postponement of both sessions, Shikarpur Nazim Arif Mahar said he believed in clean politics and was opposed to the negative politics of his rivals.

The nazim claimed that he had been serving people of the district without any discrimination. He advised his rivals and other members of the district council to realize their responsibilities and maintain the sanctity of the forum.

He also expressed concern over the attitude of naib nazim who, he alleged, was creating political disputes.