The Sindh Assembly lawmakers on Thursday put their political weight behind Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani by unanimously passing a resolution, reposing “complete confidence” in his leadership.
The provincial legislators warned that any unlawful move to disqualify the constitutionally and democratically elected prime minister, as is being speculated in view of the pressing demand for his resignation by the major opposition party PML-N, would be considered unconstitutional.
“This house commends the prime minister for upholding the majesty of law by personally appearing thrice on being summoned by the honourable Supreme Court and showing great humility and respect to the apex court,” read the draft tabled by Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro.
The resolution stated: “This house also wishes to reaffirm its belief in the constitutional procedure for the disqualification of a prime minister from holding the office and that any other procedure adopted will be considered as unconstitutional.”
The legislature also passed resolution commemorating the World Press Freedom Day reiterating its commitment to uphold the freedom of press as enshrined in the constitution.
Other proceedings on Thursday saw the Assembly taking up three private resolutions tabled by Saleem Khursheed Khokhar, Humera Alwani and Heer Soho and Anwar Khan Maher, respectively.
The draft moved by Khokhar was referred to the Standing Committee on Education as it called for inclusion of the lessons on “heroes belonging to religious minorities” in the curriculum.
The other resolution was jointly tabled by Alwani and Soho recommending the Sindh government take strict action and precautionary measures against those who involve, influence and facilitate parents of minors, especially girls, to be forcefully married on the basis of decisions taken by a tribal jirga.
The resolution was referred to the Standing Committee on Law.
Speaker Nisar Khuhro asked the committee to report back within two weeks as the legislators pressed for a proper timeline to affectively deal with the age-old humanitarian issue.
The third draft, that from Maher, expressed concern over the contaminated water flowing from Punjab into Sindh that is becoming a major cause of salinity in the province.
“The water… has badly damaged thousands of acres of cultivated land in Ghotki and Sukkur districts,” it was stated. “Proper arrangements be made to dump such water into sea.”
When PPP’s Maher complained about the provincial police chief’s disrespectful behaviour towards the lawmakers visiting his office, the Sindh Inspector General of Police escaped a privilege motion as suggested by the speaker and law minister.
