KARACHI, June 21: The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday granted 57 demands of over Rs118 billion for 2005-06 smoothly without any disturbance. The opposition had moved in all 415 cut motions in relations to 51 demands for grants. The session, which began with Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah in the chair at 10.50am, was adjourned at 5.20pm. Except for the demands No 1 and 2, on which 116 and seven cut motions were moved respectively, all other cut motions were bulldozed.

Senior Finance Minister Syed Sardar Ahmad around 5.15pm, rising from his seat, moved the demands (from 3 to 51) which were granted by voice votes.

Later, he also moved the remaining demands (from 52 to 57) together which were also put to the House by the chair and were granted by voice votes. The House, disposed of all the demands (from 3 to 57) within seven minutes and the session was adjourned to meet on Wednesday.

Earlier, on demand No 1, a total of 116 cut motions were moved by 15 members from the opposition benches. Except for some cut motions in relations to the demand No 1, which were not pressed by their movers, all others were moved one after the other by each mover.

Responding to the arguments made by movers in support of their cut motions in relation to demand No 1, the finance minister said the demand was made to meet the continued expenditures. And it was not for the first time but these were recurring for the last 10 to 20 years.

He said last year the total expenditure on this account was Rs 104 million while this year, it was Rs 118 billion due to inflation rate of 11 per cent, increase in pay scales and house rent.

The minister said that last year the information technology was introduced but this year funds were required for its promotion as it was the need of the hour. He said some members had objected to the demand for operational expenditures which include miscellaneous expenditures, including stationary etc.

Referring to objection on purchase of new aircraft, he said that the present aircraft was purchased in 1987, but now its spares were not available.

He said the governor and chief minister had to travel to provincial capitals and federal capital to attend the meetings. Therefore, it was not a luxury but a necessity. As such, the finance minister said all cut motions moved were redundant and he opposed them.

Planning Minister Syed Shoaib Bokhari said the aircraft was not being purchased for exclusive use of the present governor or the chief minister but all those who would hold these offices in future.

As far as poverty was concerned, it was not the outcome of today, but people were living below the poverty-line for the last many years.

Sindh minister for mines and minerals Irfanullah Khan Marwat said in some cut motions allowances for advisors and assistants were opposed, why should they be deprived of allowances. After all, they have been travelling to discharge the government business.

The movers, pressing their cut motions, argued that being a poor country, funds be diverted to promote education, health care and extending drinking water facilities to people.

The amount of Rs 600 million which was asked for buying a new aircraft, and allowances for ministers, advisers and assistants should be utilized for generating job opportunities and laying infrastructure and for welfare works in the province.

Those who had moved cut motions against demand No 1 were Ms Humeral Alwani, Makhdoom Jameel-uz-Zaman, Ms Sasui Palejo, Mr Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, Mr Nasrullah Shaji, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Dr Sikander Mandhro, Haji Munawwar Ali Abbasi, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Maulana Omar Sadiq, Mr Hameedullah Khan, Mr Rafique Engineer, Mr Mohammad Yunus Barai, Ms Sharfunnisa Leghari and Ms Shazia Maree.

The other movers whose cut motions were bulldozed included Jam Mehtab Hussain, Dr Mehreen Razzaq Bhutto, Jam Saifullah Dharejo, Mr Mukesh Kumar, Ms Kulsoom Nizamani, Ms Saira Shaliani, Ms Nuzhat Pathan, Dr Nasrullah Baloch and Mr Nawaz Chandio.

Before the demands for grants were taken up, Mr Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, rising on a point of order, drew the attention of the Speaker towards the proceedings on Tuesday, saying that the chairman, Mohammad Hussain, had sought opinion of the House on the cut motion which was granted, as such the government should resign as its demand was defeated. The Speaker ruled it out of order pointing out that when no mover had moved any cut motions, how it could be adopted.

The Speaker asked the movers to read out their cut motions one after the other on the demand No 1 which would be replied by the finance minister. This was opposed by Syed Qaim Ali Shah who contested the stand of the chair. But, when it was pointed out that it was the practice for last many years, Mr Shah did not press.