Unanimous resolution: Sindh Assembly urges Zardari to continue to retain dual offices

The Sindh Assembly through a unanimous resolution on Monday reaffirmed its support to President Asif Ali Zardari asking him to stick to his dual offices as the PPP legislators said the Lahore High Court's decision amounted to "depoliticising" the nation.
The session began with Deputy Speaker, Shela Raza in chair who allowed the resolution in the dying minutes of the proceedings for presentation in the house, which also received support from ANP. PPP lawmaker, Nadeem Bhutto while reading out the resolution, stressed the need for Asif Zardari to hold two offices simultaneously and expressed displeasure over the court's fresh verdict.
The resolution this time was, however, scripted in a rather softer language, expressing fears that the verdict could scuttle the political system in the country and move the nation away from the democratic outlook. The house unanimously passed the resolution amid slogans of 'Jeay Bhutto". Sindh Education Minister, Pir Mazharul Haq claimed that there were no objections from any members in the house on the very resolution, saying much had already been spoken on this issue.
Besides, the house passed four bills into laws, including the one providing for the establishment of a child protection authority, which was supported and appreciated by the legislators from either side. A majority of lawmakers of the ruling PPP seemed rather disconnected to the debate on the bill, whereas a number of opposition members including Jam Madad Ali were absent.
The house rejected the opposition member, Syeda Marvi Rashdi's several proposed amendments in different bills. At one stage there was an exchange of strong words between Rashdi and Shazia Mari. Sindh Law Minister, Ayaz Soomro accused Ms Rashidi of trying to dictate the house on her own terms.
While supporting the bill, Sindh Welfare Minister, Tauqeer Fatima, urged the house to embrace the proposition on the child protection authority to provide a legal shield to about 50 percent children of the nation against physical and sexual abuses in the society.
She said that Pakistan had signed the UN convention on child protection some 20 years ago and the Sindh Assembly was now adopting it as a law. She hoped the proposed authority would safeguard children from all sorts of abuses and guarantee their basic rights. Tauqir Fatima asserted the incumbent government had continued its support to ensure human rights protection in the society and termed the setting up of the authority "very significant". She said the authority would also help the children attain skill development and capacity building.
The Sindh Child Protection Authority Bill 2011, she said, was also aimed at setting up child protection agencies at district levels besides inviting the government's response to reports on child abuses. Other members also supported the bills and wanted the government to ensure its implementation besides proposing amendments to end the forced child marriages in the province.
They called the bills was pro-people and pro-democracy and the child protection authority was a major step to end the continued unchecked abuses against children. But, the law minister refused to incorporate amendments relating to forced child marriages into the bill, saying that a law already existed on the subject. Those who spoke in particular included, Najma Chawla, Marvi Rashdi, Humera Alwani and Ahmad Ali Shah.
The other bills passed into laws were The Sindh Protection of Human Rights Bill, 2011, and The Sindh Criminal Prosecution Service (Constitution, Functions and Powers) (Amendment) Bill, 2011. Besides, the house introduced and considered the Sindh Financial Management and Accountability Bill, 2011. Later, the deputy speaker prorogued the session.