KARACHI - An MQM MPA moved privileged motion in the Sindh Assembly against the provincial bureaucracy for not providing information about the ongoing development projects.
The alleged attitude of the bureaucracy compelled the Opposition MPAs to raise voice in Sindh Assembly.
In this regard, MQM lawmaker Heer Soho has submitted a privilege motion against Sindh Finance Secretary Sohail Rajput, alleging that she made phone calls to the senior bureaucrat to get information about the department-wise funds release for the uplift schemes in three quarters of current fiscal year 2013-14. Her privilege motion is part of the order to be discussed today (Monday) by the Sindh Assembly.
As expected, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro would oppose the privilege motion, which may invite brief protest from the Opposition benches especially the MQM lawmakers.
When contacted, Heer Soho told TheNation that it was mandatory to discuss the progress on the development as well as non-development budget, but rules of the procedures of the Assembly were not being implemented in this regard. The MPA said that she repeatedly contacted the finance secretary, requesting him to provide details of the funds released for the development schemes. “Even, I sent a request in writing but the finance secretary did not even bother to contact me, which caused breach of my privilege as the member of Sindh Assembly,” she said.
“Whenever, the MPAs from the Opposition benches try to contact with the secretaries to get details of any uplift scheme or any other matter, the officials do not reply on the matters of public importance,” she said.
When contacted, PML-F’s Nusrat Sehar Abbasi also seconded Heer Soho, saying that her party would support the privilege motion.
Meanwhile, the adjournment motion, submitted by the PML-N’s Sorath Thebo seeking discussion on the drought-like situation in Thar area, is also the part of today’s agenda in Sindh Assembly.