The opposition in its notice under Rule 14(1) has demanded that Ms Tiwana “should be immediately removed for her office since she has failed to perform her duties in an impartial manner and her gross lack of cognizance about the Rules of Procedure of the assembly makes her unfit to occupy the chair.”
Although the opposition’s agenda for the requisitioned session generally remain the same but it has sought discussion on Akabar Bugti’s killing in a military operation and termed his elimination as “unfortunate and against the unity of the federation.” As many as 49 members from both the PPP and the MMA signed the requisition.
Leader of the opposition Nisar Khuhro castigated the ruling coalition for “running away” from discussing issues concerning the people and alleged that the regime was on war path against the voices of dissent. He also blamed the ruling party and its deputy speaker for showing what he described as “callous and inhuman” attitude on Dr Qadeer Khan’s health condition and not allowing the opposition to vindicate its concerns.
He said that the ruling coalition was so ‘brutal and inhuman’ that it was not prepared even to allow the opposition to move a resolution though which it had sought the provincial assembly to mourn the demise of Nawab Akbar Bugti, and to resolve that the ‘assassination such an illustrious politician and eminent Baloch Leader is highly condemnable’ and to recommend to the Sindh government to approach the federal government to cease its violent excesses in Balochistan and seek an amicable political solution.
The opposition agenda included discussion on the voters’ enrollment besides the government action against teachers’ associations and the alleged incompetence of the government in meeting the chaotic situation that emerged during the recent heavy downpour in Karachi and elsewhere in the province.
The opposition believes that the people of Sindh were facing great difficulties in getting their names registered in the voters’ list and that the ban imposed on teachers’ unions by the Sindh government was against the democratic norms and should be immediately withdrawn.
Through another motion, the opposition wanted to bring the functioning of the city district government of Karachi under discussion because it was of the opinion that the city government had failed to handle the situation during the recent rains in Karachi as a result of which the entire civic system had collapsed.
The opposition also believes that the provincial government had failed to take any relief measure for the inhabitants of the coastal belt in Sindh, especially in the districts of Thatta and Badin, where people were left helpless in miserable condition.
Mr Khuhro claimed that even after the budget session, which was allegedly bulldozed by the ruling coalition to scuttle mounting criticism and resentment of public against its anti-people policies, the government could have summoned the session because a host of other issues were pending and some others had cropped up that needed to be addressed on priority basis. But the government looked the other way and the opposition had to requisition the session, he added.
He criticized the government’s alleged apathy despite ever expanding power crisis and the problems being faced by the people owing to alleged plunder of the city infrastructure in the name of haphazard development. He further alleged that the ruling coalition partners were more concerned with playing the loot-and-plunder game.
Referring to the government’s apathy towards the problems being faced by the people following rains, Mr Khuhro said that despite the existence of a relief commissioner the provincial government had not yet announced any relief package for the affected people nor any long-term policy had been spelt out. He alleged that the coalition partners were more interested in protecting their personal and party’s vested interest rather than the interest of the people of Sindh.He pointed out that while the people of Sindh were suffering, the coalition partners were engaged in trading allegations and not accepting their responsibility.
With regard to difficulties being faced by people in getting their computerised NICs, Nisar Khuhro referred to the Election Commission’s statement that over 20 million people had not yet been provided card by NADRA.
In this context, he claimed that another ploy to allegedly rig the elections, house numbering had not taken place in many areas of Karachi, like Clifton, Defence, Safoora Goth, Sachal Goth and many others where the government allies were weak.
He alleged that the crisis of the teachers’ association was deliberately created by the ruling coalition to allegedly disrupt the process of registration. He alleged that the coalition partners had made the election commission functionaries their hostage to get the complete registration of their own localities only.
Mr Khuhro warned that this attempt to disenfranchise the people of Sindh would not be allowed. He claimed that it was tantamount to rigging of the elections and the Election Commissioner should take its notice. He also pointed out that NADRA was charging Rs75 against processing fee for the CNICs, while 34 per cent people were living below poverty line. He claimed that this fee was inappropriate as it would deprive many to exercise their democratic and constitutional right to vote.
With regard to MQM’s demand for declaring the city government for Hyderabad, Mr Khuhro said that the city was one and also included rural areas. However, after getting the city fragmented the MQM was demanding the status. He pointed out that despite the fact that two tehsils of Hyderabad had passed a resolution opposing the city government for Hyderabad, the adviser for local government had moved a summary for chief minister’s approval.
He said the people of Sindh should now know what the chief minister had agreed to surrender to the MQM demands which had forced a showdown between the two protégés of the establishment. This was necessary because the MQM ministers had returned to their posts without apparent resolution of their demands, he added.