KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly, which met here on Wednesday in its first session of the current year with Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in the chair, was adjourned until Thursday in respect of its legislator’s death.

Ahmed Ali Pitafi of the Pakistan Peoples Party died on Friday. He had been elected from Ghotki PS-7 and this was his fourth term.

Mr Pitafi was first elected to the assembly in 1988.

Rich tributes were paid to the deceased on Wednesday and the lawmakers recalled his services.

They also offered Fateha not only for him but for soldiers, martyrs of Quetta bomb blast, ex-MNA and MPA Ruqaiya Khanum Soomro, retired Air Mashal Asghar Khan and social personality Zubaida Tariq [Aapa].

The legislators also observed two minutes silence for two minority traders who were killed in Mithi.

They condemned the inhumane treatment meted out to seven-year-old girl Zainab in Qasur and demanded of the Punjab government to arrest the culprits and give them exemplary punishment.

Before adjourning the proceedings until 10am on Thursday, the speaker announced the names of the panel for the current session.

They are: Murad Ali Shah, Khursheed Junejo, Syed Sardar Ahmad and Mehtab Akbar Rashdi.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2018