The Sindh Assembly on Wednesday passed five important bills relating to the vital healthcare sector. All these five bills were the government bills tabled by Sindh Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Siknadar Ali Mandhro and were considered at once on the request of the mover by relaxing all the rules.
The bills included Bill 20/2014 The Sindh Allopathic System (prevention / misuse) Bill 2014, Bill 24/2014 The Physiotherapy Council Bill 2014, Bill 20/2014 The Sindh Pharmacy Council Bill 2014, Bill 20/2014 The Sindh Nursing Council Bill 2014, and Bill 20/2014 The Postgraduate College of Medical Sciences Bill 2014.
Though some MPAs of the MQM requested that these bills should not be passed in haste and instead they should be sent to the standing committee on health for proper discussion; however, the treasury benches insisted to pass them without sending them to the standing committee. However, some of the amendments as suggested by the opposition benches were passed before passing the bills into law.
The assembly passed two resolutions unanimously. The first resolution was tabled by Murad Ali Shah of the PPPP which said this assembly saluted the strength and resilience of young Assu Bai Kolhi from district Umerkot, who, despite physical and other limitations, have been educating the girls of her area. Besides the mover, PPPP MPA Nadir Magsi also spoke on it. He said it was a fact that women in Sindh, especially in rural areas, were still ‘second class citizens’, and they should take steps to make them the first class citizens.
The second resolution moved by senior minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and other MPAs said this House condemned the derogatory remarks uttered recently by Imran Khan against the democratic and patriotic people of Sindh calling them ‘slaves’.
The House also appreciates the brave struggle of people of Sindh under leadership of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
An adjournment motion of Sabir Hussain Qaimkhani of the MQM to discuss the open selling of home-made wine in Hyderabad was opposed by the minister for parliamentary affairs and termed out of order by the speaker.
Talking on the resolution, Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza said it was highly condemnable to call the people of Sindh ‘salves’. People of Sindh had fought bravely against the tyrants for centuries, she said, adding the history of Sindh told them about the bravery and valour of people of this land. ‘Buhtan Khan’ had no right to disgrace the people of Sindh, she warned. He (Buhtan Khan) had himself served the dictators and remained chief polling agent of dictator Musharraf, she alleged.
Faisal Ali Sabzwari of the MQM said that the politicians should use their mind and words very carefully. The politics of Pakistan had already been too much polarised, he said. The words used against people of Sindh were used irresponsibly, he opined, adding: “We should not try to further promote lack of tolerance in our society. These words should be withdrawn and no one should hurt the feelings of people.”
Jam Khan Shoro of the PPPP said the people of Sindh had played major role in creation of Pakistan. “We strongly condemn these words. Everyone has a right to do politics but not to use derogatory remarks against the people of Sindh.”
Imdad Ali Pitafi of the PPPP said if they used such mean words against their people they could retort in the likewise manner. On the issues relating to Sindh both ‘new and old Sindhis’ were standing together with one voice, he pledged.
Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said they would not tolerate disgrace of their people because they were their elected representatives. “We know where Bani Gala is, and if the people of Sindh reacted Imran Khan won’t be able to come out of his home. The ‘generals’ blue-eyed ‘ (Generelon ka Chamcha) Imran Khan should withdraw these objectionable words, he demanded. Later, the house was prorogued.