KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Monday paid rich tributes to women and reaffirmed to end violence and discrimination against them to mark the International Women’s Day.

The thinly attended house unanimously adopted three clubbed and identical resolutions for women’s fundamental rights and against violence.

The resolutions were moved by Women Development Minister Syeda Shehla Raza, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s Rana Ansar and Mohammad Hussain Khan and Adeeba Hassan of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

The resolution moved by Shehla Raza reads, “On the eve of International Women’s Day, this house reaffirms the commitment to end all kinds of discrimination and violence against women and pursue policies that guarantee fundamental human rights for women.”

Speaker’s decision to allot ‘disgruntled’ PTI lawmaker Abro seat on treasury benches sparks noisy protest

The house also vowed to provide equal opportunities of jobs, education, financial freedom, independence, security and respect.

Speaking on her resolution, she said that women could raise their voice in effective manner only if they were financially strong.

“The provincial government has started a women economic empowerment programme in main cities,” urging the need to expand the same to entire parts of the province.

Absence of male MPAs termed deplorable

PPP’s Marvi Fasih pointed out the thin attendance in the house and said that the absence of male members was deplorable.

Paying rich tributes to mothers, sisters, daughters and party’s ‘missing’ workers, Rana Ansar of the MQM-P said that women were harassed at workplaces.

“There should be some policy for working women,” she urged.

PTI’s Adeeba Hassan said that a special session of the assembly should be held on the eve of International Women’s Day in which only women-related agenda be taken up.

The speaker agreed with her and said it would be a good tradition.

Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan’s Sarwat Fatima said the Sindh Assembly had passed numerous bills to ensure eradication of violence against women but the same had to be implemented.

Paying rich tributes to women and stressing upon the need for women empowerment, PPP’s Tanzila Umm-i-Habiba said that she was proud of being the member of a party whose leader was a woman.

Those who also spoke included PPP’s Mohammad Ismail Rahu, Kulsoom Chandio, Sadia Javed, Heer Soho, Ghazala Sial and Imdad Pitafi and MQM-P’s Khawaja Izharul Hassan and Rabia Khatoon.

There were only half a dozen or so opposition members in the house when the resolutions were adopted as earlier the assembly witnessed chaos amid PTI’s protest.

Another day of pandemonium

It all started during Question Hour when PTI’s Khurram Sher Zaman was allowed by the speaker to ask a supplementary question, but instead he asked why ‘disgruntled’ PTI lawmaker Aslam Abro was sitting on the treasury benches.

“You are allowed to ask supplementary question only, and it is my discretion to allot seat to any member,” a visibly irked speaker snapped.

The PTI members left their seats pasting pictures of lota on them and stood in front of the speaker protesting over the presence of MPA Abro on treasury benches.

Speaker Durrani warned the PTI members that he might approach the Election Commission of Pakistan against their “bad” behaviour.

“The way PTI members behave in the assembly, it is not acceptable,” he said.

The speaker said angrily that the PTI lawmakers had planned to disturb the house, asking Khawaja Izhar of the MQM-P to read out Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure of the Sindh Assembly.

“No doubt, as per rules, the speaker has discretion to allot seat to anyone but those who change party should resign first,” Khawaja Izhar replied.

As PTI’s Sher Zaman tore the copies of agenda amid a noisy protest, the speaker adjourned the house for 10 minutes.

Later, the proceedings were resumed after half an hour.

The speaker said that he and his secretary were threatened of dire consequences. “I will not tolerate this ... don’t force me to take strict action.”

Question Hour

Responding to a question by PPP’s Ghazal Siyal during Question Hour, Excise and Taxation Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla said that during the year 2017-18 92,078 non-commercial and 41,936 commercial vehicles and 687,702 motorcycles were registered.

To a verbal question by Ms Siyal, he said that auto-rickshaws and Qingqi rickshaws were included in commercial vehicles.

In reply to a question by another PPP member, Sadia Javed, he said that the provincial government did not have any plan to establish registration counters in vehicle showrooms.

However, to a supplementary question, he said a proposal to set up registration counter at the offices of the car dealers’ association could be considered if official requirements were fulfilled by the dealers.

To a query by MQM-P’s Rana Ansar, Mr Chawla said that the bed tax on hotels used to be collected by the excise department, but it was abolished through the Sindh Finance Act on July 16, 2013.

To a verbal question, he said that the bed tax was now being collected by the Sindh Revenue Board.

In reply to a question by GDA’s Arif Mustafa Jatoi, the minister said that the record of all government vehicles registered with the excise department was fully computerised and available.

He said that there were total 11,623 official vehicles registered with the excise department.

To a question by PPP’s Tanzila Umm-i-Habiba, the excise minister said that presently standardised registration number plates were being issued by the department and they were not readable by camera.

Published in Dawn, March 9th, 2021