PA's committee to meet again on February 18: Jatoi brothers refuse to amend text of resolution

National People's Party's Jatoi brothers, major movers of the resolution against Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) Constitutional Amendment Bill seeking amendment to Article 239(4) of the Constitution for creation of new provinces, have outrightly refused to make any amendments in the text of the resolution, sources present at the meeting of Sindh Assembly's Special Committee formed to take any decision about the resolution told Business Recorder.
The special committee met here on Monday at Committee Room-1 of Sindh Assembly with Senior Minister Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq in the chair to deliberate over the resolution, which has created discord among the coalition partners and even in ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
Members of the committee Syed Murad Ali Shah, Syed Sardar Ahmed, Shazia Atta Marri, Ayaz Soomro, Faisal Sabzwari, Arif Mustafa Jatoi, Shehryar Mehar and others attended the meeting. Masroor Jatoi, one of the movers, also attended the meeting on the invitation of the committee, sources said. "The third meeting of the Special Committee, which has been mandated to review the resolution, remained inconclusive," the sources said.
Sources said members of the committee belonging to PPP requested Arif Mustafa Jatoi and Masroor Jatoi to amend the resolution but they rejected the request, and remained stuck to their stance that the resolution is fulfilling all legal requirements so it should be tabled in the house for voting.
Over the committee's demand, Masroor Jatoi recorded his statement as mover of the resolution, wherein he stated that the resolution was need of the hour, as the proposed amendment to Article 239(4) of the Constitution would disturb Sindh and other provinces.
"Article 239 (4) was specially inserted in the Constitution by Zulifqar Ali Bhutto, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Hakim Ali Zardari, Makhdoom Mohammad Zaman (Talib-ul-Mola), Atta Mohammad Marri and other leaders to give strong constitutional protection to the borders of Sindh, and that any steps which may facilitate the future break up of Sindh will never be allowed either by this assembly or the people of Sindh," Jatoi was quoting as having told the committee.
They said that after the meeting, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah called Jatoi brothers to Chief Minister's House and held another meeting with them.
Chairman of the special committee Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq and member, Law Minister Ayaz Soomro, were also present in the meeting, they added.
Qaim Ali Shah requested Jatoi brothers to amend the sentences of the resolution about Article 239(4) of the Constitution but both refused to do so and the meeting proved fruitless, sources said.
When contacted, Arif Mustafa Jatoi confirmed to Business Recorder that after the committee's meeting they were called to CM House where they held meeting with the chief minister.
Chairman of the Committee Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq told this scribe that the committee had the mandate to review the resolution that's why they called the mover for recording his statement.
He said that the committee would again sit on February 18, 2012, and others movers would also be called for recording their statements. He said that after completing its job the committee would submit its report to Speaker Sindh Assembly.
Sources said that that five members of the committee including those of NPP, PML-F, PML-L, PML-Q and ANP were on same page over the issue.
While another five belonging to PPP and MQM were against tabling of the resolution, they added. It may be noted here that about 40 out of the 50 movers of the resolution are PPP lawmakers.