Sindh Assembly adopts two resolutions

Setting aside rhetoric and tirades by the PPP members against Nawaz Sharif, the Chief Minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah chose a compromising stance urging PML (N) to let each other exercise its electoral mandate and should refrain from damaging the democratic process.
Sindh Assembly unanimously passed two resolutions at the Tuesday session, which Dr Sikandar Mandhro chaired in the absence of Speaker Nisar Khohro and Deputy Speaker Shela Raza. The first came as a joint resolution urging PML-N to refrain from horse-trading commonly known "lotacracy" in the Punjab Assembly and should honour its singed Charter of Democracy with PPP.
Calling the resolution "important", Qaim Ali Shah said it was seeking stability and progress of Pakistan. He said this assembly was again suggesting and urging others to help the democratic institutions grow and should not try to harm them. He offered PML-N to honour each other's political mandate and let each other exercise its right of rule on its democratic domain. CM Sindh said PML-N had its own programme and the PPP own and both should follow the policy of reconciliation.
Qaim Ali Shah said his party's former Chairperson Benazir Bhutto had left behind her principles of reconciliation and co-existence, which the present co-chairman Asif Zardari was following. But, harsher language against the central leader PML-N, Nawaz Sharif the second day also continued at the session, as Sindh Assembly members called him "dictator's agent".
Muhammad Rafiq Advocate said Nawaz Sharif had injected a defection clause in the Constitution aimed at stopping the floor crossing. He alleged Sharif of violating the same law through making efforts to form his party rule in Punjab by a unification bloc of PML-Q. "It's against the Charter of Democracy and the Constitution," Rafiq viewed.
Siraj Durani called Nawaz Sharif the pioneer of a system of "lotacracy" in Pakistani politics in 90s and also tried buying elected representatives in Sindh during that era. Sindh Education Minister, Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq said Punjab province being the elder brother of three other provinces should lead by example and should not break the process of reconciliation in the country.
Lauding MQM, he said, the Muttahida's leadership was wise to support the political system in the country despite not signing the Charter of Democracy. He urged PML-N to honour the agreed charter for better political system and governance in the country. He also alleged PML-N of supporting terrorism "internally".
Nadeem Mughal of MQM said the dictator's agent was trying to derail the democratic process being indifferent to the national issues and the poor plight. He asserted Sindh's people would foil all attempts against the democracy and would fight to uphold their genuine claims till last breath.
Ayesha Khoso also called upon PML-N to stay away from non-democratic tactics and stop doing horse-trading in Punjab province. She also asserted less than 10 percent people would support the PML-N's proposed long-march. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ayaz Soomro said PML-N had never taken out the marches to the roads against military dictatorship, but now it was planning such a march against the elected government. MQM members besides the opposition also staged a walkout from the session on hike in the prices of petroleum products.
MQM members however returned immediately but the opposition stays out of the whole session in protest against the government's move of increasing the fuel prices amid already high inflation. MQM had also tabled a resolution on petroleum price increase, which on the request of Pir Mazhar was differed until next session.
Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan of MQM defended the resolution saying his party wanted bringing in of alternative modes to arrest the inflation and give relief to poor. He said MQM's stance on fresh fuel prices increase was the reflection of the masses and wanted bringing them down.
Dr Sagheer Ahmed of MQM said people in Karachi had suffered difficulties the other day for fuel shortage because of the strike by dealers. He said fuel prices hike was an important issue, which needed an immediate attention. In response, Shazia Mari said the government had taken the decision in compelling economic circumstances and had no other option besides raising fuel prices.
She said the government had already afforded Rs 15 billion on petroleum subsidy recently, adding the national fragile economy was unable to bear the additional subsidy burden. She urged the opposition and MQM to support the federal government in the critical economic turmoil.
Jam Tamachi Unr suggested widening tax net could only be a cure to the financial crisis of the nation, saying every rich man; trader and lawyer should be taxed to underpin the economy. Syed Sardar Ahmed of MQM said the soaring inflation had broken the poor men's back and the government should increase imposing direct taxes and scale down indirect ones.
A private resolution by Ghulam Mujadid Isran, the house also approved, urging the government to ensure 60/40 percent ratio in appointments and promotions of employees in the government departments, besides in autonomous bodies. Later, Chairman adjourned the session till Friday, March 4 at 10 pm.