KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Monday condemned the July 5, 1977 military coup of Gen Ziaul Haq terming it a black day through a unanimously passed resolution as members of all five opposition parties — Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, Grand Democratic Alliance, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan — opted to stay away from the proceedings.

The PTI had already boycotted the proceedings, but Leader of the Opposition Haleem Adil Shaikh attended the sitting briefly and left swiftly after Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani ruled out of order his privilege motion against police and security staff for “not allowing” him to enter the assembly on Friday.

The members of other opposition parties, who were present, also left before Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Nida Khuhro tabled the resolution.

Resolution

The resolutions said: “This House resolves to condemn and reject incidents that took place on 5th July 1977. This day marks the black day in the democratic history of Pakistan. On July 5 1977, the nation witnessed the overthrow of a people’s elected national government, deadliest attacks on individual rights, democracy and the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The house unanimously adopts two bills to provide better facilities to women at workplaces

“The suspension of democratically elected government of Shaheed Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto is one of the worst chapters in the history of Pakistan. The era between 1977 and 1988 can be described as the disastrous era in the country’s political history as it led to the internal strife, dissentions and polarization within the country.

“The house commits to strengthening democratic process in Pakistan and pledges to protect and support democratic values in the country and vehemently rejects the termination of democratic process in the country on July 5 1977.”

Speaking on the resolution, Ms Khuhro said that that July 5, 1977 was a dark day in the history of Pakistan when democracy was strangled and seeds of sectarianism, oppression, regionalism and terrorism were sown in the country.

She said that the first elected government of the country was dismissed and the first elected prime minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, was deposed as the darkness of Gen Zia’s regime took over the country.

She said that the political history of the country was witness that whosoever raised a voice for the rights of the masses was either hanged or shot dead.

PTI govt termed continuation of dictatorship

Paying rich tributes to late Bhutto, she said that he gave the country first constitution and concept of one man, one vote. “But today the votes are stolen,” she lamented.

Ms Khuhro said that the PTI-led government was the continuation of dictatorship, which was following the footsteps of Gen Ziaul Haq in committing injustices with the province which was first to pass the resolution for creation of Pakistan.

Culture Minister Syed Sardar Shah said that July 5, 1977 was the darkest day in Pakistan’s history. “The democratic system in the country suffered a major blow on the day as it could not be re-tracked,” he added.

He said that “some elements” wanted to derail the democratic process in the country by defaming the parliamentary system. “The agents of those elements staged a drama in the parliament to please their bosses. Script is being written for another tamasha ahead.”

PPP MPA Imdad Pitafi was among those who spoke.

Six bills passed

Meanwhile, the house unanimously passed ‘The Sindh Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ and ‘The Sindh Shops and Commercial Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2021’ as both the bills were aimed at providing better facilities to women at workplaces.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla said that better working conditions for women included separate toilets, safe transport, equal working hours and removing other work-related restrictions.

According to the bills, the employers would be bound to provide transportation facility of pick and drop at doorstep to women staffers who stay at workplaces beyond 7pm. However, no women worker would be forced to work beyond 7pm without her consent.

The assembly also passed the Sindh Institute of Music and Performing Art Bill, 2020 for establishment of an institute of performing arts at Jamshoro.

Besides, The Sindh Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2021; The Sindh High Density Development Board (Amendment) Bill, 2021; and The Sindh Zakat & Ushr (Amendment) Bill, 2021 were also passed by the house, while The Sindh Food Fortification Bill, 2020 was introduced and sent to the standing committee for further deliberations.

PPP walkout

Earlier, the opposition leader speaking on his privilege motion said that his privilege was breached as he along with his party colleagues was barred by policemen from entering the Sindh Assembly on Friday.

Mr Chawla opposed the motion while female PPP lawmakers protested and staged a walkout against the opposition leader over his “inappropriate” remarks about women.

When Mr Sheikh continued to condemn the police and security staff instead of arguing about the admissibility of his motion under the rules, the speaker again expressed his displeasure with the PTI members for carrying a charpoy in the house

The footage, showing PTI MPAs kicking the assembly gate and scaling it, was also played in the house on the order of the speaker.

Later, the house was prorogued.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2021