KARACHI, Feb 11: Members of the joint opposition in the Sindh Assembly decried what they claimed was the government’s sluggishness where lawmaking was concerned as well as the attitude of some members of the treasury.
Speaking outside the assembly building after Wednesday’s session, Arif Mustafa Jatoi of the National People’s Party, accompanied by Leader of the Opposition Jam Madad Ali and other opposition lawmakers, complained that no bills had been passed for the welfare of Sindh during the current session, which began on Feb 2. “They are continuously being deferred,” he observed.
Mr Jatoi said he had presented two bills as Wednesday was a Private Members’ Day. The first was the Sugar Bill, 2009 which, he said, was being avoided because of the alleged nexus between sugar mill owners and members of the ruling party.
The bill – copies of which were made available to the media by the MPA – wants to protect sugarcane growers from “exploitation” at the hands of mill owners. It suggests that farmers be paid immediately on delivery of cane at the factory by crossed cheque, while adding that mill owners and operators would be personally liable for non-payment of farmers’ dues, among other features.
“We know which party the mill owners belong to. They have not paid growers,” Arif Jatoi said in a thinly veiled jab at the treasury.
The other bill Mr Jatoi discussed with the media was the Sindh Electricity (Emergency Powers) Bill 2009.
“I fear the KESC owners will leave the country this year. Load-shedding has increased. However, one day we will walk into their offices and find them empty,” he said in reference to the utility’s privatised management.
The bill suggests that the government should be allowed to take control of private power producers if they fail to live up to their commitments, as well as giving the government legal power when a private power producer shuts down or absconds from the country, with specific reference to the KESC and Hesco.
“Let’s see what the awami government does about these bills,” said Jatoi.
Jam Madad Ali complained to the media about the treasury’s attitude, specifically the uncharitable remarks that had been uttered about him in particular during the day’s proceedings.
“We have been called blackmailers. They said we have five fingers in ghee. Let me tell you that they don’t even let us near the ghee. We are playing our part as an opposition, raising Sindh’s issues. But you have seen the treasury’s attitude,” said Jam, referring to Irrigation Minister Murad Ali Shah’s remarks on the floor of the house.
He added that it was his responsibility to raise the issue of the coal authority – specifically the exclusion of an opposition member from its board – as leader of the joint opposition.
About the furore over the Kalabagh Dam, Jam said he had only sought an explanation as Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination Jameeluzzaman had brought it up in the house.
“I had just asked if (the dam project) had indeed been ended. There must have been a process, paperwork. However, a minister got upset for no reason. Even when a grocery store winds up there is a process. I can also say that during our five years the dam was not built. Where are the practical assurances?”