HYDERABAD, Jan 25: Independent members of the Hyderabad District Council here on Saturday did not allow proceedings of the council to continue on the ground of lack of quorum.

The session was requisitioned by some Awam Dost Panel (ADP) and Al-Khidmat Panel members to discuss the law and order situation in the district and was scheduled to take up a resolution of Rana Mehmood Ali Khan, in this context.

At the outset, independent member Babu Ramzan Arain pointed out lack of quorum and the session was postponed for some time.

Abdul Rauf Jafri was presiding over the session then.

After 10 minutes, the members reassembled in the council hall, with Miran Mohammad Shah of the ADP in the chair.

Abdul Qadeer Qazi said the mover of the resolution had ceased to be member of the council as he had been elected as vice-president of a political party. He said his membership should be cancelled as he had violated the provisions of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance (SLGO).

The convener told Qazi the council was not authorized to take any action and if any one had objection over the member’s affiliation with political party, he should send a reference to authorities and forum concerned.

Responding to objections, Rana Mehmood Ali Khan said the SLGO had barred candidates from joining any political party till the local bodies election and the ban was over now.

He said only the Sindh Local Government Commission, the Sindh government and the election commission could cancel membership of any member.

Criticizing the Nazim of the Hyderabad City Taluka Council, Dilshad Khan said the Nazim rented a portion of his union council office to NADRA for Rs2,500 per month.

Tanveer Siddiqui accused the Nazim of committing injustices against members.

The session had to be adjourned once again when Ibrahim Chishti pointed out lack of quorum and Nazims of City and Latifabad talukas left the council hall.

After five minutes, the proceedings resumed and the chair asked Khan to read his resolution.

Khan read the resolution amidst uproar as City Nazims returned to the hall and raised clamour over lack of quorum.

The presiding officer said the session had been adjourned twice on the same ground and it must continue now but independent members gathered in front of him and forced him to prorogue the session.