MQM raises demand for separate province

KARACHI: A Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) member of Sindh Assembly on Friday called for creation of a separate province for ‘Mohajirs.’

MQM MPA Kamran Akhter while speaking on a calling attention notice during Sindh Assembly session has said that if the government could not solve the problems of the people of Karachi then it should consider the popular demand of the people of Karachi for a separate province.

On Friday, Sindh Assembly passed three bills and four resolutions. Five bills were tabled in the house by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sikandar Mandhro and three of them were passed by the House while the two were referred to the parliamentary committee.

The Assembly passed The Sindh Special Development Board Bill 2014, The Sindh Injured Persons (Medical Aid) Bill 2014, and The Sindh Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill 2014. However, The Sindh Employees Old-Age Benefits Bill 2013, and The Sindh Consumers Protection Bill, 2014 were introduced in the house which were referred to the parliamentary committee.

The house also passed four resolutions unanimously. It passed a resolution tabled by Nusrat Seher Abbasi of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) which states: “This House resolves that Sindh Government should take steps to fill the vacant posts of doctors, approximately 187, in district Tharparkar.” A resolution moved by Dr Sikandar Shoro and others was also passed. It said, “this assembly resolves to show the importance and our commitment to World Polio Day.” Khairunisa Mughal of PPPP and others tabled a resolution stating that this assembly pays tribute to Mohtarma Nusrat Bhutto on her third death anniversary, which was passed unanimously. The fourth resolution that the house passed was of Heer Soho of MQM which states: “this Assembly resolves that the provincial government to take measures to stop poisonous water of Punjab factories from entering District Ghotki.”

MQM MPAs Syed Khalid Ahmed, Amir Moin Pirzada and PML-F MPA Nusrat Seher Abbasi protested against legislation in haste, arguing that members are not allowed proper time to read the bills.

They said that at least there should be a gap of two days between the introduction and consideration of a bill so that members could give their due input.

An adjournment motion of MQM lawmakers Moin Amir Prizada and Syed Khalid Ahmed on deaths of innocent people in Karachi due to the consumption of toxic liquor was termed out of the order by the chair.

MQM member Syed Khalid Ahmed on a point of order said this morning he submitted a privilege motion in the office of secretary but it was not included in business of the day. The chair ruled that it would be discussed on Monday.

Five calling attention notices were tabled in the house and the government assured to resolve the issues raised through the notices. PPPP MPA Lal Chand Ukrani was nominated as member of Standing Committee on Minorities Affairs. Later, the chair adjourned the proceeding of the house till Monday.—PPI