Sindh Assembly session likely to be stormy

Sindh Assembly session, which is due to begin on Monday morning at 9:30, is likely to be a stormy one as most likely opposition members would take up issues relating to the death of Akber Bugti, attitude of political parties towards the protection of women laws under discussion in National Assembly, effects of recent above normal and heavy rains in Sindh and the noconfidence move against PA Deputy Speaker Rahila Tiwana.
Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim said on Sunday that the opposition would face defeat on the no-confidence move. He advised the opposition to devote themselves to constructive work, instead of getting involved in trivialities.
Rahim said that instead of doing constructive work, the opposition was involving itself in useless and wasteful activities.
The chief minister said that people in the constituencies of many members of opposition were in distress because of rains, and needed help, whereas they (members of the opposition) were resting in Karachi and indulging in frivolous politics.
He said that the session should be requisitioned only when needed, and not on flimsy grounds, as has been done by the opposition on this occasion. The opposition would like to take up the no-confidence move against Deputy Speaker Rahila Tiwana for her abrupt prorogation of last session. The opposition mainly comprising MMA, JI and PPP might also take up the case of death of Akber Bugti for discussion.
In view of PPP MPAs, the killing of Bugti was preplanned, and was aimed at silencing the voice of dissent--with force. In their opinion, dialogue should have been used to settle the issues instead of going that far as the use of arms and ammunition. They said that the people of Balochistan should be given their due rights.
The division between the PPP and MMA on the women's rights bill, being discussed in the National Assembly, is likely to come up as reference in Sindh Assembly. The opposition has prepared a joint strategy to raise the issue in the Provincial Assembly and to condemn the government for the 'haste', they say, it is showing to pass the bill.
MPAs from lower Sindh areas have expressed dissatisfaction over inadequate relief arrangement for the people affected by abnormal rains in Thatta, Badin, Tharparkar, Nagarparkar, Mithi, Deplo and Hyderabad.
They said that dozens of people had died, hundreds of animals were swept away and many villages had submerged in rainwater and none of the government official provided relief to them.
They said that they would raise the question of compensation for the affected people and ask for their rehabilitation. The session would have 'question hour' before taking up the motions moved by the opposition and the treasury members.