Sindh Assembly session: PPP avoids discussion on policing powers of Rangers

The ruling PPP on Friday shunned discussing matters regarding extension in Rangers policing powers during the Sindh Assembly session. A resolution, which the Sindh government has moved to the assembly for rectifying Article 147 of the Constitution, was placed at 11th on the agenda for discussion. Although, extension in Rangers powers requires the Sindh Chief Minister's execute order, the provincial legislature is expected to discuss the law enforcers' performance.
Deputy Speaker, Shehla Raza adjourned the house till Monday morning immediately after the house passed a resolution unanimously to pay tributes to PPP's leader, late Makhdoom Amin Fahim, leaving the entire agenda almost unattended. The session was confined to showering the PPP late leader with rich tributes.
The house earlier held a question and answer session to discuss issues related to the Sindh Auqaf Department. Sindh Senior Education Minister, Nisar Khuhro replied queries of lawmakers on behalf of Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali, who is also minister for the department but remained absent from the session. He said that the some 10,519 acres of agriculture land of the department had been leased. The government received revenues of Rs 15 million during July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2008 through lease of the Auqaf Department's agriculture land.
He dismissed that the government had halted stipend to 400 families for three months. He said the donations that were collected from shrines were deposited in the government's account in the State Bank of Pakistan, Hyderabad. He told the house that the floods that ravaged the country in 2010 had however spared damaging shrine that were falling under the authority of Sindh Auqaf Department, except one of Saeedi Mossani in Dadu District.
Some 33 lawmakers from either side of the house debated Nisar Khuhro's resolution paying tributes to PPP leader, late Amin Fahim for being a gentlemen and true politician serving his party in difficult times with principals. Earlier, PTI's lawmaker, Syed Hafizudin told reporters outside assembly that the Federal Government could invoke Article 245 to empower Rangers if the Sindh government did not extend the policing powers to the law enforcers through Article 147. He appreciated Rangers efforts for restoring peace in the metropolis.