KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday, which was a private members’ day, emerged serious in carrying out business in a dignified manner contrary to the expectations of fireworks in the house following the Monday announcement of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement that it would take up resolutions against PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan.

During the two-and-a-half-hour sitting, legislators were found more serious in carrying out house business rather than playing to the gallery with the result that the session was able to cover seven items from the agenda.

The house adopted several resolutions, including the one seeking enforcement of a ban on toy guns, which were tabled by MQM lawmakers and endorsed by PPP and PTI legislators.

Among the seven items from the agenda covered during the session was a private bill tabled by PPP lawmakers Syed Faseeh Ahmed Shah and Ikramullah Dharejo regarding The Metropolitan University, Karachi, was introduced, while its consideration was deferred on the plea made by leader of opposition Khwaja Izhar-ul-Hassan and MQM parliamentary party leader Syed Sardar Ahmad to have time for its study.

Another bill, whose notice was given by PML-F lawmaker Mahtab Akbar Rashdi regarding prohibition of corporal punishment, could not be taken up as its mover was not present.

Similarly, the resolution of PML-F legislator Nusrat Bano Sahar Abbasi regarding allocation and release of funds by the multinational oil and gas companies for social development in the region where they were operating could not be taken up for want of her presence.

By another bill, the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences was christened Pir Abdul Qadir Shah Jeelani Institute of Medical Sciences, Gambat in recognition of the services of Khairpur’s social reformer and spiritual leader to the people. This amendment bill was tabled by Pir Syed Fazal Ali Shah Jeelani of PPP and supported by leader of the house Syed Qaim Ali Shah, MQM parliamentary party leader Syed Sardar Ahmad, ministers Manzoor Wasan, Makhdoom Jameel-uz-Zaman and MQM lawmaker Mohammad Saleem Rajput.

In addition to the bill, the house also adopted four resolutions tabled by MQM legislators. The resolutions tabled by Dr Zafar Khan Kamali and Naheed Begum recommended to the federal government to create a high court bench in Mirpurkhas and to make Waseela-i-Sehat — a component of Benazir Income Support Programme of Rs30,000 annual grant — conditional to the specific use for the health of mother and newborn only.

Another resolution, whose notice was given by lawmaker Saleem Rajput, pertained to the establishment of a university in Sukkur.

A resolution demanding the imposition of a ban on the manufacturing, import and sale of toy guns was tabled by Saifuddin Khalid and was endorsed by Khawaj Izhar, Jam Khan Shoro of the PPP and Hafeezuddin of the PTI.

Earlier, the adjournment motion was disposed of when its mover MQM lawmaker Heer Soho did not press for it after the assurance given by parliamentary affairs minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro and Local Bodies Minister Syed Irfan Shah that the government had already launched an operation for the removal of encroachment from drains.

Deputy Speaker Syeda Shehla Raza, who was presiding over the assembly session after 1.30pm, called it a day at 2.15pm to reassemble on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play