Water and Power Distribution Agency (Wapda) is the "biggest enemy" of Sindh province, treasury member Jam Tamachi claimed during a post-budget 2009-10 session of Sindh Assembly on Friday. Talking to post-session briefing, Information Minister Shazia Marri said certain statements of Karachi Nazim Mustafa Kamal were spoiling the reconciliatory climate in Sindh.
Terming the proposed budget as "best" Tamachi, who is also the chairman of Public Accounts Committee of the provincial assembly, accused Wapda of deliberately creating power shortage in the province to justify the development of Kalabagh Dam. Urging the need for strict "implementation" and "monitoring" of the new allocations he claimed that Wapda was also likely to sabotage Thar Coal Power project in Sindh in pursuance of its heinous designs.
He alleged that Wapda had traditionally been blackmailing successive government in the past. The outspoken PPP MPA also urged the PPP-led coalition government to construct Basha Dam as soon as possible, as according to him, only this would automatically void necessity of the now unpopular KBD. Tamachi also stressed the need to root out "sifarshi culture" from the government's system and society to make an effective and transparent use of the budget.
The treasury member also suggested that the provincial ministers should voluntarily avoid hoisting national flags on their vehicles, a simple move, which he said, would ensure 50 percent security of the VIPs. The suggestion came when Marvi Rashdi of PML-F criticised the provincial ministers, particularly those of agriculture and food departments, for keeping a large number of security squad.
Counting total number of police personnel at 3,500, a figure contradicted by Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Marvi said an already under strength department, where one officer was protecting 571 citizens in the province, could not afford such heavy contingents as escorts on guard duty.
On this, Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza calling the ministers a part of government's precious team, said owing to uncertain security situation the ministers had been provided with security squads, and they would leave not even a single policeman around as soon as the situation improves. Reacting to Marvi's statement Food Minister Mir Nadir Magsi declared to have no policeman for protection of Agriculture Minister Ali Nawaz Shah saying that he had no security squad.
Meanwhile, Arif Mustafa Jatoi of National People's Party on a point of order objected that his long submitted starred questions, 1402 and 1390, were neither listed nor responded to by the concerned minister. The House witnessed a brief and soft-spoken argument between Jatoi and Information Minister Shazia Marri backed by Pir Mazharul Haque when the latter told the house that "Mr Jatoi" was violating the Rules of Procedures by communicating with somebody sitting in the gallery.
However, intervention of the chair defused the situation. Humera Alwani, Sharjeel Memon of PPP, Tahir Qureshi and Manzar Imam of MQM and Nuzhat Pathan of PML-Q were the other members, who in their comments on budget, though appreciated the fiscal monetary plan referred to a rampant and ever-increasing corruption in the government institutions.
Qureshi and Pathan, highlighting different irregularities in the education and health sectors, urged a strong check and balance system in government organisations. Earlier, Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza responded to various supplementary queries of the legislators during Question Hour. The Speaker adjourned the House to meet again on Monday at 4pm.
Later, when asked to comment on the city Nazim's statement directed at the Prime Minister and Chief Minister Sindh in Friday's newspapers, Marri said the MQM leadership should take notice of such statements. She said it was for the first time that various mega projects in Karachi were being undertaken with the PPP-led federal government's financing. Lauding MQM's MPAs for their positive role in Sindh Assembly, the information minister said Kamal's statements were likely to disturb the prevailing reconciliatory climate of the province.
On the occasion, Leader of Opposition Jam Madad Ali said the previous government had privatised KESC in best interest of the people, but if now the utility was falling short on its promises the present government should take action against it.