KARACHI, May 13: The City Council witnessed fireworks on Tuesday when members on both sides of the divide exchanged hot words on a number of issues rather than focusing on the key agenda of the house.

When the house resumed its session, opposition members Mohammad Anwar, Ramzan Awan, Abdul Razzak and Saifuddin tried to raise the issue of May 12 through points of order. They insisted that the house offer fateha for those killed that day last year.

Treasury leader Asif Siddiqui and Masood Mehmud opposed the opposition move saying that the issue had been discussed in the previous sessions. The leader of the house said opposition members were raising unnecessary issues and creating disturbance in the house.

Masud Mehmud said the matter was in court, and therefore sub judice, and that the house offer fateha for all those killed in various tragic incidents since 1947.

The treasury leader’s remarks incensed the opposition members, who stood up and raised slogans, including ‘Zalimo jawab dau, khoon ka hisab dau’ and ‘restore the UC fund’.

The convener of the house, Nasreen Jalil, tried to calm the opposition members and ruled that the house could not debate the controversial issue.

Unconvinced by the convener’s remarks, the opposition continued their protests by raising slogans in favour of UC funds and other issues.

Treasury member Abdul Jalil, on a point of order, drew the attention of the house to price-hike and attacked the present government for its failure to control the prices of daily use items.

He said that 42 days had passed since the present government came into power but they had done nothing to improve the lot of the common man.

He alleged that the ruling party, instead of solving problems faced by the people, was confusing the people by keeping on hold the issue of the restoration of judges. Mr Jalil argued that the people were more interested in bread and butter matters than in the reinstatement of judges.

The opposition members repeatedly interrupted Mr Jalil by thumping desks and shouting slogans.Upon this, the convener remarked that in a democratic order the majority always prevailed and urged the opposition members to respect the views of the treasury. She again assured the opposition that the UCs would get funds as soon as they became available. The opposition, unimpressed by the convener’s assurance, staged a walkout from the house.

Later, Haq Parast member Abdul Jalil continued his speech and also criticised the government on the issue of petroleum prices, saying that in the neighbouring countries attempts were being made to reduce fuel prices but in our country the government was increasing it.

He regretted that the opposition, instead of debating the issues of the common man, was wasting time of the house on what he described as non-issues. Some of the Haq Parast leaders, including Arif Bhutti and Rafia Ehtesham, called for controlling meat prices.

On a point of order, Asif Siddiqui said the opposition boycotted the session whenever an issue of public importance was raised in the house.

Later, in the absence of the opposition the house passed a resolution on change of land-use on Shaheed-i-Millat Road and at other places. A resolution on re-determining the income of Safari Shed Lift was also passed.

Two other resolutions were related to the establishment of a committee on the status of shopkeepers of Gole Market and shifting of the Lines Area Parking to the Karachi Development Company Limited.

The convener adjourned the session to May 19.