Amid slogans of 'No Corruption No' and 'Go Zardari Go,' Opposition parties' legislators registered stiff protest against the PPP-led Sindh government for blocking their development funds, at a chaotic session of Sindh Assembly, here on Monday. The ruling party's legislators and provincial ministers were upset due to high-pitched chants by the opposition members against co-chairman of their party Asif Ali Zardari. The opposition also staged a sit-in in front of the speaker's rostrum to protest against the Sindh government for non-release of development funds to them.
They alleged that PPP government was forcing the opposition to defect from their original parties if they want development funds. They protesting MPAs also tore up the assembly agenda's copies and tossed them to the speaker chair. Their slogans against Zardari sparked off a tit for tat response from stunned PPP members.
"Your leader Nawaz Sharif will not survive [in Panama papers leaks case] whatever slogans you raise," said Sindh Senior Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, retorting to the protesting opposition. He also pointed at the MQM's members saying that now there was no Musharraf regime that could help them. His remarks no Musharraf was there to pamper the MQM evoked shouts from MQM against PPP leadership.
Shehla Raza, deputy speaker, adjourned the house for 10 minutes due to rumpus in the house and subsequently postponed the session till Tuesday morning. At the outset, the MQM had raised the issue of its activist who died in the central prison Karachi and calling for probe into his death. Shehla Raza replied that the concerned minister had not arrived yet and he will reply as soon as he joins the session. But, the MQM's legislators walked out of the house to lodge protest.
The opposition accused the ruling PPP government of not releasing the development funds. MQM's Muhammad Hussain spoke on a call-attention notice and said that the opposition was not provided with even a single penny out of an allocated amount of Rs 2.8 billion for community development program that costs Rs 8 billion.
The deputy speaker interrupted asking him "don't make a political speech' and confine yourself to the notice." Her advice triggered chaos in the house. On Hussain's call attention notice, Nisar Khuhro said that there is a 15-member committee in each constituency to propose projects under the community development program and that works across the province. He said that the government releases funds for the projects after the final say comes from the concerned deputy commissioner.
His explanation further stirred protest. Following suit, PML-F's Nusrat Sehar Abbasi, MQM's Sabir Qaimkhani and PTI's Dr Seema Zia also raised the issue of funds being blocked by the government. Shehla Raza again emerged more active than the treasury members to defend the PPP government, saying that whatever policy statement came from Nisar Khuhro is 'enough.' She gave a ruling to deny the opposition to make any demand, in this connection.
The house witnessed chaotic situation after chants of 'go Zardari go' increased with each passing moment. The opposition members began staging sit-in in front of the speaker's rostrum and continued raising 'go Zardari go,' 'no corruption no.' After 10-minute break, treasury members and ministers were seen tense as shouts against Asif Zardari echoed the house several times during the sitting.
Shehla Raza also misbehaved with MQM's veteran, Syed Sardar Ahmed after a disagreement with him, calling him to tear the copies of rules of procedures of the assembly if cannot follow them. Sardar Ahmed had urged the chair to let the opposition speak up their demands for funds. Her remarks again engendered the protest for yet another time who again shouted 'go Zardari go'.
"MQM cannot save Nawaz Sharif with these tactics," Nisar Khuhro said, alleging the PML-N's lady legislator, Surath Thebo for 'taking money.' He asked "why she is lying like her leader Nawaz Sharif as she is getting money." The treasury members also started shouting 'go Nawaz go' in response to the Opposition's slogans. The house will now meeting on Tuesday morning to hold the private members day.
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