KARACHI, June 30: The Sindh Assembly on Monday empowered the government to rename a district or taluka through a notification after the names of prominent personalities, who rendered outstanding services to the nation.

This was done through the Sindh Land Revenue (Amendment), Bill, 2008, which was unanimously passed into law by the house.

The assembly session was called to order at 11.10am with Speaker Nisar Ahmad Khuhro in the chair. After the question hour the speaker administered oath to the Pakistan People’s Party’s Pir Syed Mohammad Bachal Shah, who was elected from PS-30 (Khairpur) in the by-election held on June 26.

Before the session was prorogued sine die at 2.15pm, the house adopted a resolution unanimously recommending that the government approach the federal government to issue official passports to assembly members and their families as per Article Four of the Constitution.The resolution was moved by Dr Sikander Mandhro after relaxation of the relevant rules by a motion, which was carried by the house.

Earlier, through motions moved by Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, the introduction of Government Bill No 4 of 2008 (Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical University Larkana Bill, 2008) and constitution of the standing committees and other committees were deferred to the next session of the assembly.

The Amendment Bill No 3 of 2008, introduced on Saturday, when moved for consideration by Ayaz Soomro, was welcomed by all members. However, while endorsing the bill, Jam Madad Ali, who is leader of the opposition, suggested that the bill be referred to the standing committee while Arif Mustafa Jatoi proposed to hold a referendum to elucidate the opinion of the people of the area before renaming a district. Shaheryar Mehar said instead of a small taluka or district, why isn’t a big city like Hyderabad or Sukkur named after Benazir Bhutto, considering her stature as an international leader.

The speaker said the bill was not specific to any personality but general in nature.

Finding no support from the house, the opposition members did not press their proposal. After the third reading the bill was passed into law.

From the treasury benches those who supported the bill during consideration were Syed Sardar Ahmad, Shazia Marri, Nadir Magsi, Jam Mehtab, Rafique Engineer, Mir Hasan Khoso, Shama Mithani, Ahmad Ali Patafi, and others.

The amendment in the Sindh Land Revenue Act, 1967 added 6-A after Section 6 and reads :

“Notwithstanding the provisions contained in Sections 5 and 6, if the provincial assembly has passed or passes a resolution to the effect that a district or a taluka may be renamed, the government shall, by a notification, rename such district or taluka, as the case may be.”

In the end Nisar Khuhro expressed gratitude to all members of the treasury benches as well as the opposition for cooperating in carrying out business in a good atmosphere. He said opposition was the beauty of democracy.

He observed that efforts should be made so that in the future, house proceedings start on time.

Before the speaker, Pakistan People’s Party parliamentary leader Pir Mazharul Haq paid tributes to the speaker for his “neutral, fair and equal attitude with all members and providing an opportunity to maximum members of the house without any discrimination.”

Soon after recitation from the Holy Qur’an and Fateha, Information Minister Shazia Marri, rising on a point of order, referred to the reported incident of manhandling of a team of journalists belonging to a TV channel by certain people when they visited the Government Hospital Liaquatabad. Offering regrets, she informed the house that the health minister had ordered an inquiry into the incident and the report was awaited.

Health Minister Saghir Ahmed assured the house that those found guilty would not only be taken to task, but the TV channel would be compensated for damages.

Nusrat Sehar Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional drew the attention of the house towards the deteriorating law and order situation, with specific reference to incidents in which women were being targeted.

Minister Tauqir Fatima Bhutto said her department would look into the matter and take the required steps.