Resolution on uniform pointless: Khuhro

Published September 19, 2004

KARACHI, Sept 18: The leader of opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Khuhro, has maintained that since provincial assemblies can neither amend the constitution nor reflect on the conduct of the president, governor or the judiciary , therefore, there was no justification for the resolution calling upon Pervez Musharraf to retain his uniform.

According to 104/6 of the Rules of Procedure, no resolution of that sort could be moved in the house, said Mr Khuhro, while addressing a news conference on Saturday.

Asked to comment on Speaker's warning to the PPP Parliamentarians' MPA, Rafiq Engineer, and the treasury benches' move to censure him, Mr Khuhro said that no legal action could be taken against any member for his or her utterances on the floor of the house.

He said that Rafiq Engineer had even made a written submission that he should be given a chance to speak on the point of order, adding, he had made repeated verbal pleas as well. He was of the view that the speaker's attitude towards the MPA was not correct.

Replying to a question, he said that the speaker had the right to exercise his powers but he should not be partisan. "He should not attend the treasury benches meetings."

He also accused the government of running away from addressing the crucial water issue by not allowing him to raise it on a point of order and bring a motion for taking up the matter.