KARACHI, Sept 3: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim on Friday advised the opposition in the Sindh Assembly to do away with its attitude of "opposition for the sake of opposition" and let the elected government function.
"Such an attitude cannot do any good to the country and its people," he told newsmen in his assembly building chamber. "If we are in government today, maybe they in government tomorrow," he observed, "so what benefit would they accrue from their attitude?"
Referring to the opposition's allegations of irregularities in the Thar by-election, the CM said it was ironic that they neither lodged any appeal against the results nor did they demand recounting of votes.
Dr Arbab again challenged the opposition to try again as the seat had fallen vacant as Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had chosen to retain the other seat he had won. He told newsmen that Arbab Zakaullah would be contesting the seat in the fresh by-polls.
Commenting on the opposition's stand on the 'so-called' issue of Deputy Speaker Rahila Tiwana's election, he said that the matter was already before a court.
He described the opposition stand as 'childish', saying: "Sometimes the entire opposition boycotts the assembly proceedings when she chairs a session and sometimes it is only the MMA which does so. What sort of stand the opposition leader takes when he says that he suspends his reservation on the issue?"
About the resolution, adopted unanimously in the Friday session, on shrines in Iraq, the chief minister said that President Musharraf himself had talked to the US authorities that no harm should be caused to the sacred places in Iraq by the allied forces.
In spite of the resolution having been passed unanimously, the opposition tried to make an issue out of it, he said. Dr Arbab pointed out that the opposition had also objection over the provincial assembly's resolution on extending felicitation to Mr Shaukat Aziz on his election as prime minister.
At the very outset, he observed, the opposition appeared unable to agree on a joint candidate against Mr Aziz for the slot of prime minister. And finally, when they reached a consensus on fielding Javed Hashmi, they resorted to staging a boycott, he added.
The CM indicated that the ongoing session of the Sindh Assembly was being held on the opposition's requisition, "but it seems they do not want the proceedings to be conducted."
Referring to the Prince Cinema episode, he said the issue was blown out of proportion. "Highlighting an issue this way only sends a wrong message to the world." The women caught from inside were either Hindus or beggars, the fact was that the case had not been handled properly.
"The minister conducted the raid without informing the area police so that the information was not leaked out. The technical mistake committed was that the raid had been conducted without women police."
In reply to a question, Dr Arbab Rahim said that the cabinet formed by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz could not be regarded as the biggest one as Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif had formed their cabinets having more than 50 ministers.
He maintained that the present government was a coalition and the PM would like to take all of them along in greater national interest. He told a questioner that Sindh Government would pursue the policy of federal government. He hinted at the induction of more ministers in the Sindh cabinet.
When asked about the conspiracy against MQM, as alleged by its chief Altaf Hussain, Dr Arbab said no agency in the province was involved in any conspiracy. If something was taking place at the federal level, the Centre would take notice of the same. "However, no such thing is in my knowledge," he firmly stated.
Regarding his meeting with Pir Pagara, Dr Arbab said he would serve as a bridge between Pir Saheb and the Centre as it was his responsibility to convey the issues relating to Sindh to them.
In reply to a question, the chief minister said Thar must get representation in the federal cabinet and he was hopeful about it. He disclosed that Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had sent deputy chairman of planning commission to Tharparkar to assess the requirements of this backward district. The official, he said, was accompanied by Sindh chief secretary, additional chief secretary (planning) and some five federal and provincial secretaries.
He said that the prime minister would certainly like to visit Tharparkar from he had registered a landslide victory. About Thursday's clash between two groups of PML in Nawabshah, Dr Arbab said that the Sindh chief of the party would certainly look into the matter. "A big wrong has been committed and he will take notice of it to see that who was responsible." -APP