KARACHI: PPP irked by MQM’s stance on Qadirpur gas fields issue
The outburst was witnessed when Syed Sardar Ahmad suggested that the adjournment motion moved by Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Jam Madad Ali against privatisation of the Qadirpur gas fields be either withdrawn by its mover or clubbed together with an MQM resolution on the subject, which was also on the agenda.
The MQM resolution reads: “To stop privatisation of the Qadirpur Gas Fields and save the precious natural resources of the province.”
Another minister, Shoaib Bokhari, who is also from the MQM, termed the motion very important and endorsed the views of his senior colleague and recalled that at the time of inauguration of the gas field in 1996, the then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had described it as a gift for the peasants and people of Sindh. He wondered why the government was bent upon disposing it of.
Pir Mazhar, responding to the arguments of co-parliamentarians, said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had denied that there was any move for the privatisation of the gas fields. He asked how a resolution or adjournment motion could be passed merely on conjecture and assumption. It was a only press report that had been denied by the prime minister, he asserted, informing the house that the gas fields had nothing to do with the provincial government.
Syed Sardar Ahmad contested the senior minister’s statement pointing out that the PM had not denied the privatisation of the gas fields and only deferred it saying that the matter would be referred to parliament.
Pir Mazhar, without mentioning Syed Ahmad by name, said it was unfortunate that a coalition partner was supporting the leader of the opposition instead of discussing the matter with the chief minister, who could take it up in a cabinet meeting.
Syed Ahmad responded by saying: “We are not supporting the adjournment motion of the leader of the opposition. I had informed the chief minister in September about our resolution on the subject and had asked him to summon an assembly session so that the resolution could be moved.”
The speaker drew the attention of the house to the right of a member to move an adjournment motion, saying that it was up to the house to reject or adopt it.
Jam Madad Ali said it was an urgent matter. How one could say that it was not a matter of concern for the Sindh government, he asked. Every inch of the land of the province was a matter of concern for the Sindh government and even if an inch of land was auctioned by the federal government, it was the Sindh government’s responsibility to resist it.
He suggested that if there was any objection to the wording of the motion, it could be addressed and after its adoption it should be referred to the federal government.
He said he had no objection if the motion was clubbed with another motion or if PPP members also supported the resolution. It was our right to raise our voice for the interests of Sindh and its people, he added.
Pir Mazhar, recalling the PPP’s struggle for the rights of Sindh, termed the motion of the leader of the opposition an attempt to get “cheap publicity”. It was evident “to everybody how they exploited the resources of Sindh when they were in government,” he said.
Sardar Ahmad, speaking on a point of order, said the Jam was willing to withdraw his motion and join their resolution, whose nature would be that of a recommendation to the federal government and parliament against privatisation of the fields.
Rafique Engineer deplored that the issue was an adjournment motion and without settling it, there was talk about the resolution.
Munawwar Ali Abbasi said: “Let us talk on the admissibility of the motion.”
Syed Murad Ali Shah termed the motion inadmissible under the rules of business and pointed out that the federal government was its owner and after a clear statement of the PM, the Sindh government ought to appreciate his statement.
The speaker said it was a hypothetical case and the PM had given a clear assurance in this regard.
Jam Madad Ali, on a point of order, said it was by all means a matter of concern for Sindh, but the senior minister’s remarks against him were uncalled for. He said his attempt was not to become a hero of Sindh as was alleged by the minister. He advised the minister not to try to suppress the voice of the opposition.
The Jam also said he was ready not to insist on his motion provided an assurance was given that the resolution on the subject would be passed during the current session.
Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said it had been agreed with the MQM that a joint resolution would be moved in the house. Syed Ahmad had asked for summoning the session which was called but during the period the prime minister arrived in Karachi and made a categorical statement.
He recalled that all promises made by the PPP, including one about the Kalabagh dam project, had been honoured. We would also get a new NFC award, he added.
He asked the house to maintain a “congenial atmosphere” while discussing a motion and a resolution. The government was making every effort to restore law and order, but there were people who raised issues to keep themselves alive in the media, he added.
The minister said the prime minister had made a clear statement that the Qadirpur gas fields issue would be referred to parliament and the fields would not be privatised.
The speaker said that as the law minister had said that a resolution would be moved, the leader of the opposition should not press his motion.
Shoaib Bokhari said as the motion was now the property of the house, its mover could not withdraw it. But it was up to the speaker to decide one way or the other.
The speaker said that following the assurance of the law minister that a resolution would be moved, the matter stood resolved.
Manzoor Wasan wanted to speak, recalling sacrifices and struggle of the PPP for the rights of Sindh, but the chair did not allow him as he had given the floor to Dr Sikandar Mandro.