From the beginning of the session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza, the MQM members' outcry captured the house, which continued to grow till it was adjourned to meet on July 22. They were demanding allotment of opposition benches in the house. The house witnessed first of such an uproar in the present government's tenure, which MQM until recent was a key part before quitting the ruling coalition. The noise was too loud for all to hear the proceedings.
It was observed that the in-built desk microphones were not working and extra microphones had to be arranged for Deputy Speaker and bills presenter Sindh Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ayaz Soomro to conduct the proceedings. MQM members, during the debates, which the media could apprehend properly for noise, stood in front of the Deputy Speakers rostrum and chanted slogans and tore copies of the assembly proceedings and bills and tossed them towards the chair.
The three bills, which the house passed were The Sindh (Repeal of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 2001, and Revival of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 1979) Bill, 2011, The Sindh Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2011 and The Sindh (Repeal of the Police Order, 2002 and Revival of the Police Act, 8161) Bill, 2011.
The statement of objectives and reasons of the Sindh (Repeal of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 2001, and Revival of the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 1979) Bill, 2011, says the Sindh local government ordinance 2001 was promulgated during the unelected government without taking the political parties and public into confidence. It says the local government system was introduced though a local government ordinance 1979, which was a time-tested law and had reduced the sufferings of the public at large.
"The Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2001 instead of improving the Local Government System has deteriorated the writ of the Provincial Government and created discrimination amongst the masses, therefore, it is expedient to repeal the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 2001 and revive the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 1979, in its original position as stood on 05.08.2001," the statement concluded.
The statement of objectives and reasons of the Sindh Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2011 says the present political government has observed that the original system of Revenue Department relating to the functions of Revenue officers, was abolished through the unelected government without taking the political parties and public into confidence at large. It says the abolishment had seriously affected the work of the Revenue Department and has created serious problems for the public.
"Therefore, it is expedient in the public interest to revive the original system of the Revenue Department and make suitable amendments in the Sindh Land Revenue Act, 1967," the statement says. The statement of objectives and reasons of the Sindh (Repeal of the Police Order, 2002 and Revival of the Police Act, 8161) Bill, 2011, says the Police Act of 1861 was "a very" elaborate law but was repealed and the Police Order 2001 was promulgated during the unelected government without taking the political parties and public into confidence at large.
"Instead of improving the working of Police, it has deteriorated and created serious problems for the general public, therefore, it is expedient in the public interest to repeal the Police Order 2002 and revive the Police Act, 1861 in its original position as it stood on 13th August, 2002," it says.
The Sindh Law Minister put the bills clause by clause before the house for approval amid severe uproar by the MQM legislators, received a unanimous vote as the new opposition was absent from their benches and could not be heard whether it really opposed them. Earlier, the house resumed its business after the post-budget session, offered fateha for those killed in the recent violence in Karachi. Immediately, the MQM legislators rose from their benches and came out to stand before the Deputy Speaker's chair, demanding separate opposition benches in the house.
On which, Shehla Raza said the government had not yet accepted resignations of MQM members of provincial assembly and therefore should remain on their previous seats during the session. However, MQM's Faisal Sabzwari replied that his party members had sent resignations to the acting Governor, which the government should consider as accepted and demanded for allotment of separate seats. The uproar also badly disturbed the question and answer session, as the house remained in a complete disorder for the MQM members were chanting slogans. The government's allies gave their approval to the bills through thumbing the desks.