Provincial minority legislator Saleem Khursheed Khokhar left everyone startled when he accused the Sindh PA Speaker of "suppressing the minorities' voice" on being denied to present a resolution during Monday's session to denounce the state-run telecommunication regulator's move of "banning" the name of Prophet Jesus (AS) in text messages.
The house descended in no time in uproar with words "my religious right is snatched," Khokhar cried in a loud voice after his microphone was turned off, although he had just raised the issue on a point of order. Speaker Nisar Khohro was chairing the session.
First, Khokhar ad asked to speak against Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) for "banning the name of Jesus Christ" in the text messages on a point of order and he was immediately allowed. After finishing his views, he said he wanted to present a resolution to denounce the Authority's move, but this time, the Speaker did not agree with him to fulfil his wish and he raised hue and cry.
He blamed the speaker for being biased against him, saying that the house always suspended rules to bring a resolution on any issue but his move was blocked for "Jesus Christ" was his 'god'. Nisar Khohro explained that the member had just asked for raising the issue on a point of order, which he had consented. He added if the minority member wanted to present a resolution on the PTA's move then he was not supposed to speak on point of order. The speaker said the inclusion of the name of Prophet Jesus (AS) in the list of banned words by the PTA was not a good sign.
Nisar asked the member why he had not raised the issue with him during a morning meeting in the speaker's chamber. He said if the minority member had shown intention he would definitely accommodate his resolution in the day's proceedings. The speaker noted that the protest by the lawmaker was unjust to damage his chairman's credibility.
Siraj Durrani tried to assure Khokhar that the issue would be raised with federal information minister to "sort out" the problem. But Khokhar continued to roar. Sindh Minister for Electric Power, Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza, Muhammad Rafiq Engineer and Faisal Sabzwari assured the protestor that his views and sentiments would be communicated to the federal authority to remove his concerns.
Shazia Mari said that questioning the speaker's impartiality was unjust. Shehla Raza said that "no Muslim could be Muslim unless ne believes in Prophet Jesus (AS)". Rafiq Engineer said: "Hazrat Issa (AS) was Muslim's Prophet". Faisal Sabzwari said such a hue and cry in front of media would damage Pakistan's image globally and there should be a separate arrangement to solve the issue. On a point of order, Muzzamal Qureshi demanded of the government to investigate the appointments of ADOs and EDOs in the Education Department.
Khalid Ahmad said Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) had increased duration of electricity load shedding in the past 10 days to 8 hours a day for the commercial and residential users, adding the government should see the issue on a priority basis.
Munawar Ali Abbasi demanded of the government to increase the support price for paddy crop in the province to Rs 1000 from Rs 800. Anwar Khan Maher demanded of the government to solve the drinking water scarcity problem in Sukkur. The house also received three ordinances including The Sindh Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Ordinance, 2011, The Sindh Motion Picture Ordinance 2011, and The Sindh Sales Tax (Amendment) Ordinance 2011.
The speaker told the house about Sindh Governor's assent to bills including The Sindh government Servants Benevolent Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2010, The Sindh Seed Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2010 and The University of Sufism and Modern Sciences at Bhitshah Bill 2010. At the end, the Speaker declared the house as prorogued.