Provincialism appeared to have had a strong grip over Tuesday’s proceedings in Sindh Assembly where Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmakers heavily criticised the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-dominated Centre and Punjab for depriving Sindh of its due share of water and electricity in a session that saw three resolutions being passed unanimously.
The House passed two separate resolutions, supported by the opposition (PML-N), calling for immediate closure of two link canals by the PML-N-led federal government, and condemning a recent statement from the Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power chairman on discontinuation of 650 MW power supply by Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC), respectively.
“This assembly resolves and recommends to the government of Sindh to approach the federal government to close C J Link Canal and T P Link Canal immediately and ensure due share of water to Sindh,” read the resolution moved by Jam Khan Shoro of the PPP.
Another resolution jointly tabled by PPP’s law minister-designate Dr Sinkander Mandhro and Khalid Ahmed of Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) strongly condemned, what Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Muhammad Hafeezuddin said was Monday’s statement from a senate body’s chairman suggesting that WAPDA’s power supply to the KESC be suspended.
Despite having pinpointed the issue in the house through an “un-admissible” adjournment motion, Hafeezuddin could not get his name included in the resolution which, after a detailed discussion, was jointly signed and tabled by the PPP and MQM legislators.
“We only wanted to raise the issue,” Hafeezuddin said, while talking to Pakistan Today on the sidelines of the session.
A third resolution came from Sharmila Farooqui of the PPP that called upon the Sindh government to mandate the administration of DNA tests and preservation of DNA evidence in all rape cases in accordance with Supreme Court’s October 2, 2012 judgment.
All three resolutions were adopted with a unanimous vote after lawmakers from various divides of the House discussed and supported them.
Meanwhile, MQM’s Faisal Sabzwari was appointed leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly.
The MQM has also been allotted opposition benches in the House.
The party managed to bag 18 seats in the National Assembly and 37 seats in Sindh Assembly in the May 11 general election.
Sindh Assembly passes 2 resolutions on water, power
