KARACHI, Sept 28: Sindh Assembly members of the Awami National Party (ANP) submitted a joint application for the allotment of seats on the opposition benches in the house on Friday, a day after lawmakers of the Pakistan Muslim League-F, PML-Q, PML-L and National People’s Party had filed similar applications.

Parliamentary leader of the ANP Amir Nawab Khan submitted a joint application to Khadim Hussain Leghari, the staff officer to the Sindh Assembly speaker, that he and another ANP lawmaker Amanullah Khan Mahsood be allotted seats on the opposition benches in the house.

Speaking to journalists, Mr Nawab said his party had reservations over the newly promulgated Sindh People’s Local Government Ordinance. Until the reservations were addressed, the party would not become part of the coalition government, he added. He said the ordinance was passed without taking his party into confidence. He said the ANP was an important coalition partner in Sindh and centre.

He said that on the opposition benches, they would support the democratic process and continue to raise their voice for people’s rights.

The applications of Jam Madad Ali, Dr Rafique Bhanban, Nusrat Sehar, Marvi Rashdi, Ali Ghulam Nizamani, Abdul Sattar, Shamsuddin Rajar and Rahim Bux Bozdar of the PML-F, Shahryar Mahar, Mir Ghulam Abid Sundrani, Ghalib Hussain Domki, Syed Shah Hussain Shirazi and Mohammad Ali Malkani of the PML-Q, Razzaq Rahimoo, Arbab Zulfiqar, Nuzhat Pathan and Chetan Mal of the PML-L and Masroor Khan Jatoi, Arif Mustafa Jatoi and Abid Hussain Jatoi of the NPP submitted to the deputy speaker of the Sindh Assembly on Thursday are yet to be approved.—PPI