KARACHI, Dec 13: The Peoples Party Parliamentarians and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, the parties that have agreed to cooperate with each other in the formation of the provincial government, have deplored the regime’s “unethical and illegal” moves to undo the unopposed election of their candidate for the post of deputy speaker, and demanded removal of the governor for attempts to scuttle the democratic process.
The demand was made by their provincial chiefs at a news conference which was originally intended to make public their agreement to put up joint candidates for the post of speaker and deputy speaker of the Sindh assembly. But the events connected with the filing of nomination papers for the two offices dominated the proceedings.
Maulana Asadullah Bhutto, provincial chief of the MMA, said the decision was taken in the interest of the province and the country after the PPP had agreed in principle to the MMA’s 27 points.
Maulana Asadullah Bhutto demanded that the federal government take notice of the misuse of power by the Sindh governor and remove him for interference and manipulations. He said the joint candidate of the alliance and the PPP had been elected unopposed.
He told a questioner that both sides had agreed to remove confusion, if any, through mutual consultations. Maulana Asadullah Bhutto said the understanding reached in Sindh could be the beginning of a long-term relationship between the two players on the national level.
At the outset the PPP’s parliamentary leader Nisar Khuhro thanked the MMA for extending support and agreeing to put up joint candidates.
Deploring the extension by the Sindh governor of the time for filing nomination papers for the two posts by an hour and a half after the expiry of the previously announced cutaway time, Nisar Khuhro said it was illegal and in violation of the rules of procedure of the assembly.
He cited the relevant clauses in that regard and said the extension was announced after the assembly secretary had told mediamen that until 12 noon, which was the cutaway time, he had received the nomination papers of Abdur Rahman Rajput, jointly fielded by the MMA and the PPP.
But some time later, the regime manipulated another extension which, he said, was an insult to the elected assembly and its members.
He said the developments showed the kings’ party had lost the battle and was using illegal means to impose a government of its own.
Present at the press conference among others were the MMA’s parliamentary secretary Maulana Umar Sadiq and Qari Mohammad Usman. The PPP leaders included Syed Khurshid Shah, Naveed Qamar, Shah Mohammad Shah and Rashid Rabbani.
In the Sindh Assembly, the strength of the MMA is of 10 members, while the PPP, which is the single largest parliamentary party, has 67 votes in a house of 163 members. To win any of the seat it requires at least 81 votes.