KARACHI, Oct 24: Sindh Assembly Speaker Muzaffar Hussain Shah on Monday regretted the attitude of the opposition, and said that the opposition should show respect to the office of the Speaker.

Talking to journalists in his assembly chambers after the session, he said opposition should mend its defiant attitude towards the speaker. “It is necessary to carry on business of the House.”

He recalled that before recognizing Imtiaz Shaikh from the treasury benches he had given an opportunity to four to five members from the opposition to speak on their points of order.

However, as far opposition’s demand that the speaker should exercise his powers under Rule 211 (relaxation of the rules for moving a motion) was against traditions. “If I exercise authority in one case, I will have to exercise authority in other cases also. Therefore, I have made it a principle not to exercise my authority,” he said.

He said when those sitting in opposition used to be in the government, they also used to seek relaxation of rules under 211. Mr Shah said the opposition had an important role to play in running the House but with decorum.

Recalling the need for compliance of the order of the Speaker, he said even leader of the House could not speak without permission by the speaker.

Law Minister Iftikhar Chaudhry said the purpose of seeking relaxation of rules was that he wanted to see that three important bills should be passed in today’s sitting. The bills pertained to amend the removal from service (Special Powers) Sindh Ordinance, to provide for the establishment of Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences, and the bill to amend the Sindh Cotton Control Ordinance, 1966.