Daily Times

KARACHI: The proceedings of Sindh Assembly were disrupted on Thursday when the lawmakers belonging to treasury and opposition benches traded blows of allegations of corruption, bribery, commission and money laundering, and sending ill-gotten money from Pakistan to “Dubai” and “London” came to pushing one another in front of the dais of speaker on the floor of the house.

The Sindh Assembly turned into a fighting ring as members were seen engaging in physical fighting and hurling verbal abuse at each other during a post budget session.

The Opposition Leader in Sindh Assembly, Khawaja Izharul Hasan, had to intervene and separated the two groups involved in the brawl.

According to reports, the legislators of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) traded blows with those belonging to ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

The MQM leader said that no specific person was at fault but the wrong process opted for procedure was the reason to blame for the unfort-unate incident.

As per reports, during speech of PPP’s Shameem Mumtaz, when raised money laundering in London and previous speech of Kalsoom Chandio criticizing MQM that provoked opposition party members on the occasion.

Both side Lawmakers including Mukesh Kumar Chawla of PPP and MQM’s Azeem Farooqui, Abdullah along with other lawmakers shout each other and scuffled in ongoing at the end of session.

Khawaja Izhar said, “The incident happened due to a misunderstanding between MQM’s Azeem Farooqi and PPP’s Mukesh Kumar Chawla.” He said the issue has now been sorted out and both the lawmakers braced each other. After the incident, the session was adjourned till today (Friday).

It is pertinent to mention that the issue erupted during the speech of a PPP’s female lawmaker. It all began when Pakistan People’s Party leader Shameem Mumtaz criticised the opposition members for pinpointing flaws in the provincial budget.

She said that if the Muttahida Qaumi Movement would talk about leaders in Dubai, they would also talk about those in London, referring to MQM chief Altaf Hussain.

Later, a PPP lawmaker confirmed that the brawl happened following the speech of a female lawmaker, however, things have been resolved and the sessions will resume today (Friday).

Meanwhile, a large number of the members of opposition and ruling party lawmakers criticised budget 2016-17 and alleged for heavy corruption of Rs 320 billion in the province. They also spoke on the process and mechanism of local government system.

The MPAs including Aijaz Shah Sheerazi, Rana Ansar and others said that Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) was a fraud. They said the poor man couldn’t bear an expensive education adding that the health sector is destroyed and Sindh health minister should immediately resign.

The lawmakers said that Rs 13 billion allocated for Zulfikarabad city should be utilised for the welfare of public, but not for making a new city Zulfiqarabad, which is a destructive project. They said, “We need to give opportunity to the fishermen, live stock in Thar and other areas dying due to starvation, special packages should be given for wheat floor to public.

Sindh Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and MPA Dr Sikander Mendhro said the federal government is not providing the rights of Sindh province adding that the people of Sindh are suffering from load shedding crises but all are silent on the issue.