News
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Rain wards off PPP-ANP ‘showdown’ in NA
* ANP lawmaker says party was up in arms against restoration of local government system in Sindh
By Tanveer Ahmed
ISLAMABAD: Torrential rain in the federal capital on Monday averted a likely “showdown” between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and its coalition partner Awami National Party (ANP) in the National Assembly when the session was adjourned due to inability of a majority of the members to make it to the House.
As the indications were clear that the PPP would have to face anger of its coalition partner in the Centre and Sindh over the revival of local government system 2001, the heavy rain in Islamabad rescued the PPP, which was likely to face a protest in the House.
It was also later confirmed by MNA Bushra Gohar of the ANP that the party had planned to protest against the imposition of local government system in Sindh, particularly in Karachi and Hyderabad, but a sudden adjournment of the session deprived her party of an opportunity to lodge its protest.
The ANP is up in arms against the PPP government over the restoration of Musharraf-era local government system, which has been introduced again on the demand of the MQM in two major urban centres of Sindh.
Earlier in the parliamentary committee meeting, the ANP had decided to protest in the House.
The government came under sharp criticism in the Lower House of parliament last week when the MQM lashed out at the provincial government for deteriorating law and order in Karachi. The MQM had accused the government of patronising certain elements who were disturbing peace in the city.
With the promulgation the Local Government Ordinance, 2001, the MQM has been pacified but hard days of the PPP are not yet over as its old coalition partner, the ANP, is now unhappy on the government move and has vociferously voiced concern against the new arrangements in Sindh. The Lower House of parliament that resumed its business after a two-day break wore a deserted look on Monday when it commenced with the presence of only one and half dozen members in the session.
As soon as the recitation from the holy Quran was over, PPP chief whip Khursheed Shah took the floor and pointed out that heavy rain in the capital made it impossible for the members to make it to the session and asked the chair to adjourn the session for tomorrow (Tuesday).
Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi who was chairing the meeting sought the consensus of the House about the adjournment of the proceedings due to thin presence of members and asked the leaders of other parliamentary groups to give their opinion about the proceedings of the House.
PML-N chief whip Sheikh Aftab Ahmed and MQM’s Deputy Parliamentary Leader Haider Abbas Rizvi also endorsed Khursheed Shah on the adjournment of the House and upon achieving the consensus the House was adjourned to meet again today (Tuesday).
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk