KARACHI, March 1: The requisitioned session of the Sindh Assembly was on Tuesday abruptly adjourned by Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah for March 14 when there was a chaos and pandemonium in the House.
Pandemonium prevailed in the House over exchange of remarks between the members of the treasury and opposition benches, and the Speaker had to expunge certain unpleasant remarks.
Although the order of the day contained eight private bills, five resolutions, two adjournment motions and two motions, no legislative business could be conducted, except the question hour which lasted about a little more than an hour.
Even in this short duration, the House witnessed chaos twice. Once in the first half when leader of the opposition, Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, reacted to the statement of Sindh minister Shoaib Bokhari, who stated that the procedure to approve development schemes was being followed over the years.
However, it was the government which contrary to the previous practice provided equal funds to the opposition to carry out development works in their constituencies. Reacting to this statement, Nisar Khuhro said the minister's response to the supplementary question was as if the funds were a favour from him.
Mr Khuhro was joined in raising the objection by a other members from the the opposition benches when law minister Iftikhar Chaudhry tried to clarify the remarks of the minister.
There was disorder as over half a dozen members from both sides rose from their seats and started drawing the attention of the chair and gave remarks against each other. Mir Naseer Khan Khoso, who was presiding over the session, after failing to restore order, adjourned the proceedings around 12.10pm for Zuhar prayers.
When the House resumed around 1.50 pm, the Speaker expunged the unpleasant remarks passed by members in his absence and started the took up the proceedings from where he had left.
After the question hour, the Speaker sought the views of opposition regarding adjournment of the House for 10 days as desired by the treasury side as many ministers would not be able to attend the assembly due to their other engagements.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Nisar Ahmad Khuhro raised objection, saying it was an insufficient reason to adjourn or prorogue the session as it was the law minister whose presence was required. Besides, Tuesday was private ember's day and some important business had been on the agenda.
Speaker reminded the opposition benches about a decision on house business committee and his discussion with Mr Nisar Khuhro, Mr Murad Ali Shah, Mr Munawar Ali Abbasi who had also agreed on daily business for at least three-and-half hours to four hours and resuming the session by 10.30 am.
Drawing the attention of the Speaker, Ms Shazia Marri said let the bills be introduced in the House which would not take much time and be referred to appropriate departments so that some legislative business could be conducted.
The Speaker asked Mr Nisar Khuhro to move his adjournment motion and speak on its admissibility. Before Mr Khuhro could speak on the motion about Dr Shazia Khalid case, certain remarks by Transport Minister Adil Siddiqui, which were expunged by the Speaker, infuriated the entire opposition members who rose from their seats to register their protest.
Mr Khuhro was heard saying "stop nonsense". As there was commotion in the house, nothing was audible in the press gallery when the chair called it a day to meet on 14th.