KARACHI, Jan 26: A bitter controversy over the draft resolution against an MQM constitutional amendment bill — aimed at creating new provinces — took a new turn on Thursday when a provincial minister from a coalition partner announced his resignation from the cabinet over the “attitude of the chief minister” whom he accused of favouring the division of “our beloved province”.

The constitutional amendment bill, being currently scrutinised by a National Assembly committee, has alarmed Sindhi nationalist parties as well as provincial lawmakers belonging to both ruling Pakistan People’s Party and coalition partners, though the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has been at pains to affirm its commitment to an undivided Sindh.

Attempts to forestall the tabling of the resolution against the MQM bill — moved by Masroor Ahmed Khan Jatoi of the National People’s Party — led to acrimony that showed no signs of abating on Thursday when the Sindh Assembly referred it to a special house committee.

While the move was at first considered to be the outcome of behind-the-scenes negotiations between the government, coalition partners and the NPP — because the resolution’s backers relented knowing full well that the government was buying time — the Sindh alternative energy minister from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Shaharyar Khan Mahar, announced that he could no longer serve under Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah who he said favoured “the concept of bifurcation of the province of Sindh”.

Mr Mahar had used a somewhat uncharitable expression for the chief minister during an earlier session.

Referring the resolution to a Sindh Assembly special committee constituted under Rule 174 of the rules of procedure, Speaker Nisar Khuhro repeated his stance that there could be constitutional and legal implications if the resolution was allowed to be tabled.

“As such the resolution should undergo a review and careful rephrasing,” he cautioned.

He suggested that the special committee address the misgivings of the resolution’s movers. The committee could comprise nominees from the parliamentary parties in accordance with their strength in the house, he offered, and said that it should put forward its recommendations as soon as possible.

Food Minister Nadir Magsi of the PPP called for a timeframe for the committee to finalise its recommendations and the sponsors of the resolution also supported the idea, but the chair opposed the move, arguing that a timeframe could not be set because the house was being prorogued on Thursday.

He informed the house that the assembly was yet to cover 30 days of sittings to complete its 100 working days before April.

Law Minister Ayaz Soomro also endorsed the chair’s arguments.

After the session, Information Minister Shazia Marri, who was supposed to brief the media on the day’s proceedings, chose not to give any briefing at all apparently in an attempt to avoid commenting on the resolution issue.

However, Mr Jatoi told the media that the NPP nominated Arif Mustafa Jatoi, Jam Madad Ali, Shaharyar Mahar and Razzaque Rahimoon to the committee.

He said four PPP, two MQM and one ANP lawmakers were included in the committee.

Arif Mustafa Jatoi said that the resolution was signed by over 50 lawmakers from different parties but it was not allowed to be tabled forcing them to boycott the remaining part of the session. He alleged that the house was adjourned on Monday for two days to further delay a discussion. Again on Thursday, he said, the chair decided to refer the resolution to the committee despite repeated requests by members to allow a debate on it.

He threatened to quit the committee if it did not submit its report within the next 14 days.

By Habib Khan Ghori