A ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP) lawmaker on Wednesday asked the provincial government to set forth a 'strict' policy to deny shelter in Sindh to all refuges displaced from North Waziristan in the wake of ongoing military operation. During a debate on budget 2014-15 in Sindh Assembly, PPP lady legislator, Khairunisa Mughal vowed to continue supporting Pak Army's operation in North Waziristan and insisted that the government should deny refuge to the homeless people.
She feared the refugees' settlements will create unrest and may give rise to other problems in Sindh. She asked the government to announce a 'strict' policy to refuse all refugees from war-zone in the Sindh. PML-F's lawmaker, Saeed Khan Nizamani, also raised the issue of 'worst' law and order that hit the entire province. "In the rural areas dacoits and the urban parts target killers rule the roost," he commented.
He questioned the Sindh province progress, adding that: "where the province is leading to?" He urged the PPP and MQM to provide the 40,000 jobs announced the in the budget for next fiscal year in a transparent manner without taking bribes. He tried to convince the Sindh government to sense the financial hardships of people of the province. He urged the ruling PPP to end political victimisation of its opponents, saying the PML-F workers are suffering at the hands of provincial government in fake police cases in Sanghar area.
Saeed Khan disapproved the budgetary allocation of Rs 13.6 billion for Sindh Education Reforms Programme. "What reforms can be done to the education sector as entire education system is ravaged," he maintained. Kamran Akhtar of MQM said the PPP's political reconciliation however failed to reflect in fiscal budget of the province, and termed the financial plan "disappointing". He said the government failed to accommodate its partner's recommendations for uplift schemes in the budget.
"The MQM had proposed Rs 83 billion projects which were not included in the budget 2014-15," he said, adding that the "budget caused disappointment". He asked the government to show its plans as to how it will spend the funds allocated in the budget to complete 63 percent existing and 27 percent new development schemes in the province. He called the federal government 'biased' towards Sindh but urged the provincial government to carry out a fresh consultation with MQM lawmakers on budget before its passage in the house.
He asked the Sindh government to announce local bodies polls and allocate a hefty amount in budget to develop the province. He said the budget allocation largely proposed non-development funding and very less to development schemes, suggesting a balanced expenditure for the both sides. Syed Hafeezuddin of PTI criticised the provincial government for low revenue generation, slight income tax collection from agriculture sector and socio-economic catastrophe in Tharparkar district.
He challenged the government to show its developments if carried out anywhere in the province, saying not a one kilometre of standard road in Larkana or Khairpur exists to travel on. He warned the provincial government of taking it to the courts for annual development funds release. He claimed that five chief ministers are working simultaneously in the province, saying in such conditions the province cannot go on smoothly.
Ijaz Ali Shah Sherazi of PML-N tossed chaos in the house, which forced Speaker Aga Siraj Khan Durrani to adjourn the house till Thursday morning following the unsettling pandemonium. Sherazi tussled with a PPP lady lawmaker, as she and her other colleagues were continuously disturbing him during his speech on budget by chanting 'lota'. Shehla Raza, who was chairing the house at the time, asked the PPP legislators not to disturb him and let him compete his speech.
Opposition Leader Sheharyar Mahar stood and lodged protest with the chair against the PPP lawmakers and warned that such a disturbance may cause troubles for chief minister who has yet to speak in the house. He asked the chief minister Sindh to administer oath of all his cabinet members on Holy Qur'an that they will not take bribe during one year and will serve the province. His remarks tempered Sindh Education Minister, Nisar Khuhro who objected and asked the chair to expunge his words from assembly record.
The chants by PPP women lawmakers did not end until Sherazi lost his temper and remonstrated with one of them directly, stirring Sindh Information Minister, Sharjeel Memon to react angrily. Sharjeel asked Sherazi to render apology to the women lawmaker. Sherazi sent a shut-up call to Sharjeel as meantime Durrani again took the chair in a bid to clam the situation but both sides did not accept his requests and the uproar continued. After failing to settle the pandemonium, Durrani announced to adjourn the house.
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