Sindh Assembly rejects PTI resolution on May 12 victims after brief showdown

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Tuesday saw a tense exchange after a resolution moved by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to pay tribute to those killed on May 12, 2007 was rejected by the speaker, while senior PPP leader Nisar Ahmed Khuhro staged a walkout in protest over the manner in which it was taken up.

According to proceedings reported from the house, Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah allowed PTI parliamentary party leader Shabbir Qureshi to present the resolution after the day’s agenda had concluded. While moving it, Qureshi said that all pro-democracy parties had held rallies on May 12 and that innocent people were brutally killed that day.

The speaker then invited MQM-P member Taha Ahmed to speak. He condemned the violence and said workers of his party had also been killed on May 12. Without naming PTI, he also remarked that those now speaking about May 12 were the same people accused in the May 9 incidents.

The speaker subsequently ruled the resolution out of order and rejected it. When he was later given the floor, PPP lawmaker and Public Accounts Committee Chairman Nisar Ahmed Khuhro objected that the resolution had been taken up out of turn.

"I wanted to speak, but you rejected the resolution," Khuhro said before walking out of the session.

House passes resolution against honour killings

During the same sitting, the assembly unanimously adopted a resolution against honour killings moved by MQM-P member Bilqees Mukhtar, calling for justice for Rubina Chandio’s killers.

Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho supported the resolution and questioned why jirgas continued to operate in Sindh. "There should be no jirgas in karo-kari cases," she said.

Dr Pechuho told the house that the victim had married by choice, which she said was a right recognised by Islam. "This was not an honour killing, it was a killing of dishonour," she added.

Women Development Minister Shaheena Sher Ali informed the assembly that two girls had been rescued from Tando Allahyar and Khairpur, and that arrests had been made in the Rubina Chandio murder case.

Jamaat-i-Islami member Muhammad Farooq called for legislation providing for public execution of those involved in such crimes.

Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar said the legal framework already existed and that action had been taken promptly. He told the house that 20 people had been arrested in the Rubina Chandio case and that all of them were in jail.

"It’s shameful, but such incidents have been taking place for centuries," he said.

Child labour resolution voted down

The house also rejected a resolution on child labour in Karachi moved by MQM-P member Amir Siddiqui. Responding to it, Irrigation Minister Jam Khan Shoro said laws on the issue were already in place and advised members to approach Labour Minister Saeed Ghani with specific complaints.

Health minister raises concern over malaria cases

During Question Hour, Dr Pechuho said Sindh had thousands of unconfirmed malaria cases, though she added that reporting of deaths remained questionable.

"Hospitals are placed on high alert during monsoon, and anti-dengue spraying will be carried out across the province, but households must also take precautions," she said.

The health minister also pointed to ongoing construction activity in Karachi, saying stagnant water at such sites was contributing to mosquito breeding and the spread of dengue.

The session was later adjourned until Friday.