The Speaker, Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, wanted to continue the proceedings after Friday prayers, but the members, who had come more than an hour late, as they do every day, presented all sorts of excuses to make him agree to a sitting at 10am on Saturday.
Chief Minister Ali Mohammed Mahar, who came to the house at noon, hardly remained there for five minutes. One has not heard him speaking in the house since he got the confidence vote.
The chief minister has not stated anything on the pressing matters of law and order, civic problems, or the crucial NFC award issue. There is a feeling that either he does not consider the assembly relevant to his continuance as chief minister or the real stakeholders, who are playing the dominant role, have deliberately kept him at bay.
During the proceedings when the attention of the speaker was drawn to the non-production of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement MPA, Younus Khan, in the house, the speaker said he did not have the power to issue such an order. It was suggested that rules and the Privileges Act be amended to vest the speaker with such powers.
During the question hour, the Minister of Local Government, Mohammed Husain, informed the house that many areas of Karachi had been facing a severe shortage of water for the past several months, particularly localities in the former district West.
The minister was asked specific questions about water shortage in Lyari and what steps the government had contemplated to overcome this problem besides questions pertaining to supply of contaminated to people.
He pointed out that the Hub dam and Dumlotti sources of water had dried up, and Karachi was now totally dependent on the Indus source, which was 940 MGD.
He said due to power breakdowns the water supply system was being affected for several hours. Generators would be installed at water pumping stations to avoid the effect of power breakdowns and loadshedding.
In reply to a question from Nasreen Chandio of the PPP, he said Lyari Town was being provided 13 MGD of water as against its requirement of 17 MGD.
Asked why the hydrants were being managed by the Rangers and when the civilian authorities would take over, Mr Husain said in the past the water hydrants, like the KESC, KDA, KW&SB and other utilities, were being run efficiently.
PPP’s Rafiq Engineer also asked the minister to explain how much water was actually being provided to the people of Lyari and how it was measured.
When Fariha Haroon of the PPP maintained that the water being supplied to Lyari was unhygienic, the minister asked for fresh notice.
Rising on a point of order Nasarullah Shajee of the MMA maintained that the KBCA had demolished three houses of 100 square yards in Gulshan-i-Iqbal’s Block 17 without serving any prior notice.
He attributed the reason for demolition to alleged political victimization.
The minister assured him that an inquiry would be conducted into the reported incident and that a report in this connection would be placed before the house in the next session.