KARACHI, Feb 14: In what appeared to be a coup de grâce for the Pakistan People’s Party-led Sindh government, Saturday’s sitting of the provincial assembly – the last of the current session, which started on Feb 2 – saw the house resound with cries of jubilation for the 11 unchallenged Senate candidates from Sindh, while Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah presented a vigorous defence of his 10-month old government.
But perhaps the most interesting political development of the day was the chief minister’s revelation on the floor of the house that Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi’s National People’s Party had gotten “even closer” to the government. Pointing to the three NPP members that sit in the house, Mr Shah said that “hopefully, they will be sitting with us in the next session.”
Talking to the press after the session was prorogued, Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri confirmed that there would be a “cabinet role” for the NPP, while according to APP, the three NPP lawmakers – Arif Mustafa Jatoi, Masroor Jatoi and Abid Hussain Jatoi – had also called on the chief minister at CM House to congratulate him on the “unopposed election of the PPP’s nominated candidates for the Senate.” The news agency adds that Qaim Ali Shah thanked the elder Jatoi as well as the three MPAs for their cooperation.
Political observers were of the opinion that the latest development will further soften an already docile opposition as with the exception of Arif Jatoi and a few Pakistan Muslim League-Functional women lawmakers, there are hardly any other vocal opposition legislators, and it is often witnessed that some of the most minute scrutiny of the government’s workings comes from within the treasury.
Qaim Ali Shah rose to address the house after the points of order and question hour had concluded. Referring to the Senate elections, he said the candidates’ unopposed nomination – eight from the PPP and three from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – was a “landmark decision” arrived at with the assistance of the allied parties.
Praising the “wisdom of President Asif Ali Zardari”, the CM thanked MQM chief Altaf Hussain, PML-F head Pir Pagaro, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, PML-Q Sindh chief Arbab Ghulam Rahim (who was earlier the government’s bête noire) and Awami National Party head Asfandyar Wali by name. “It is a unique decision in the parliamentary history of Sindh,” he added.
State of the province
Qaim Ali Shah then gave the house a stirring defence of his government’s performance. He claimed elements were trying to destabilise both the provincial and federal governments. The CM said he had presented a programme on behalf of the PPP as envisaged by Benazir Bhutto when the current assembly came into being. “We have religiously followed that.”
The chief minister said that though different parties had their own programmes, there was a general sense of harmony as all political forces were united over the issues affecting Sindh. “Elements who do not see eye to eye with the democratic process are jealous.”
He admitted there is “rampant poverty in Sindh. The previous government might have made efforts to address this … I am not criticising them. We have taken tangible steps.”
The chief minister said that as the government had promised to distribute 200,000 acres of land amongst landless women peasants, in a period of four months 30,000 acres had been distributed as per this policy.
The CM said “another step towards the alleviation of poverty” was the direct appointment on merit of 70,000 people, whom Mr Shah termed the poorest of the poor. He added that under the Benazir Youth Development Programme, 18,000 people had been inducted out of a target of 50,000 the government has set for the year. “We will not leave them in the lurch. They will be inducted in different trades.”
Regarding the high prices of food, the chief minister said that “after this month, the price of wheat flour will fall so much that hoarders will be driven out of business.”
As for the housing problem, Mr Shah said the federal government was building houses for the poor. One hundred and fifty such units would be inaugurated on the 25th of this month, while the homes would be “storm proof”, he added. The CM said low-cost housing projects were currently under way in Thatta, Badin and Larkana districts, while such structures were also being built in the Bin Qasim and Surjani Town areas of Karachi. “The target is 10,000 houses. We have the budget, however, some bottlenecks do exist. It is difficult for me” to talk about exact details right now, the CM admitted.
Law and order
Regarding law and order, the chief minister said a brochure had been published listing the improvements that had been made, which would be shared with the members. “Kidnappings have gone from a countless number to 16 or 17.” He added that the police were being given training and equipment “worth billions. We are ready. Law and order is our top priority. There will be debate in the house. Nothing will be hidden from the members and the people,” Qaim Ali Shah said winding up his statement.
Earlier, after the house had been called to order by Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro at 11.45am (an hour and 45 minutes behind schedule), Irrigation Minister Murad Ali Shah repeated his much-contested claim that no anti-Kalabagh Dam resolution had been passed during the 2002-2007 assembly.
After question hour, the PPP’s Anwar Mahar tabled a resolution under Rule 211 to pay homage to Sufi Shah Inayat Shaheed of Jhoke Sharif on this 300th death anniversary. The resolution was passed unanimously after speeches by Mr Mahar and Culture Minister Sassui Palejo, which highlighted the revered Sufi’s many achievements.
Law Minister Ayaz Soomro moved a motion to defer the introduction and consideration of two bills as well as the election of two committees till the next session, which was carried. The Auditor General of Pakistan’s audit report of the Sindh government for 2005-06 was referred to the Public Accounts Committee, which was asked to furnish its report within a year.
After congratulations from Leader of the Opposition Jam Madad Ali as well as the speaker – who hailed the “political maturity and cohesion” of the members – following the chief minister’s statement, Nisar Khuhro read out an order of the Sindh governor which announced the prorogation of the current session at 2.10pm after a 13-day sitting.
Dear visitor, the comments section is undergoing an overhaul and will return soon.