KARACHI - Poor security arrangements and tardy management of the Sindh Assembly were exposed on Friday as a media team managed to bring a weapon in the assembly hall on Friday.
An anchorperson and his associate belonging to a private news channel managed to sit in the visitors' gallery of Assembly Hall along with a gun. Later, the gun was recovered from their possession and handed to the assembly staff, which was given to the baffled speaker Agha Siraj Durrani. Being directed by Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal, the security personnel arrested the accused.
“We will investigate the matter and a report will be submitted in the assembly,” dispirited Siyal told the House.
Meanwhile, the opposition members protested against the security lapse.
“The Sindh Assembly is spending millions of rupees for security measures of the House but an armed man not only managed to enter the assembly but kept sitting in the gallery with ease,” opposition leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan regretted.
However, the speaker announced to sack the assembly security staff and cancelled passes for the next sitting to be held on Monday.
Following the incident, Adviser to Chief Minister on Information & Archives, Maula Bux Chandio said the government has taken strong notice of serious security lapse in the Sindh Assembly.
In a statement regarding presence of an armed man in the Sindh Assembly, he said that some people while taking advantage of concession given to them staged this drama in the Sindh Assembly. The government is investigating the matter seriously, while the relayed Sindh Assembly security officials are suspended. The investigations are in process, he said.
SA PASSES THREE BILLS
The Sindh Assembly transacted its entire business and passed three bills unanimously. Tabled by the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the House passed the Sindh Employees' Old-Age Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Sindh Senior Citizens Welfare Bill, 2014 and the Sindh Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Bill, 2015. The reports of the relevant standing committees on last two bills were also presented before consideration of these bills.
The speaker announced that the Sindh Governor had granted his assent to the Sindh Terms of Employment (Standing Orders) Bill, 2015, the Sindh Shops and Commercial Establishment Bill, 2015 and the Sindh Factories Bill, 2015.
The Sindh Assembly met for Three hour and 33 minutes. The sitting started at 1021 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
The government orally responded to all five starred questions appearing on the agenda. In addition, lawmakers asked 22 supplementary questions. The House rejected an Adjournment Motion submitted by PTI lawmaker regarding shortage of water in his constituency.
The discussion on the admissibility of the motion consumed 16 minutes of the proceeding.
The proceeding of the House was discontinued due to disturbance caused by the information of presence of an armed person inside the Assembly Hall. The Speaker demanded the Home Minister to inquire the matter and present the detailed report.