KARACHI – Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza on Tuesday submitted a privilege motion in the Sindh Assembly (SA) against the management of a media group for publishing an irresponsible report in its two newspapers.
Admitting the motion, SA Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro sent it to the house committee on rules of procedure and privileges, directing it for submitting its report during the next session. The motion was regarding a news item appearing in both English and Urdu-language newspapers of the media group, regarding the anticipated removal of Mirza from his post.
The home minister stated that the news had breached his privilege as the SA member, causing him great distress. Holding the newspapers’ publisher and the desk staff responsible, Mirza submitted that the committee should call them and direct them to disclose the unknown sources quoted in the news report.
During his speech while submitting the privilege motion, the home minister levelled several allegations against the owner of the media group and said he would also reveal documentary proofs against the owner. He said that he gave no importance to holding ministries or government offices as his family has been holding them for years, adding that the ruling party has appointed him minister and can ask him to quit also.
“I will remain loyal to the party as I am not the Makhdoom of Multan (Shah Mehmood Qureshi) or any Mir or Pir,” he said, adding that he had contested election against former military dictator Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf during a difficult time. Supporting the privilege motion, Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said that nobody could be allowed to humiliate anybody. However, Speaker Khuhro commented that the motion was about a news item, which was without an authentic source.
RESOLUTION PASSED: The Sindh Assembly passed a resolution acknowledging the services of Ghulam Sughra Solangi, a social worker with a rural background, who was recently conferred an international award. Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F)’s Marvi Rashdi proposed the resolution, and the PPP members supported it.
According to the resolution, the House resolved to recognise the services of Solangi, who had received the ‘International Women of Courage Award 2001’ from the US Secretary of State for her outstanding performance. Therefore, the Provincial Assembly acknowledged her work on education, health, awareness of human rights and social development.
Speaking on the resolution, Sindh Electric Power Minister Shazia Marri said that the media should also highlight the positive aspects of women in the province. PML-F’s Nusrat Saher Abbasi said that Solangi has proved that the identity of women in Sindh is not only karo-kari, and that there is also an encouraging side of the local women.
FAKE ORGANISATIONS: PPP leaders in the House expressed anger over fake human rights organisations operating in Sindh.
Senior Sindh Education and Literacy Minister Pir Mazharul Haq raised the issue on the point of order. He said that the House should condemn fake human rights organisations that are only trying to gain popularity by filing petitions in the courts. These organisations only want to harass elected representatives through such tactics, he added.
Responding to a query of the speaker, the senior minister said that these organisations are not registered with the government. The law minister assured his colleague that the government would take action against such organisations after conducting inquiry.
