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Express Tribune
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
90% allocated to rural Sindh: MQM-P
The fourth day of general debate on provincial budget continued in the Sindh Assembly with Deputy Speaker Anthony Naveed in the chair on Thursday. The attendance of government and opposition members in the House was extremely low, indicating a general lack of interest in the budget debate. Rehan Akram of MQM-P stated that in its seventeenth budget, the Sindh government once again allocated 90 per cent of the schemes to rural Sindh. He alleged that the Anti-Corruption Department has become a department of corruption. He claimed that the Sindh government has effectively turned corruption into an industry. He also highlighted the water crisis and sewerage problems in his constituency. Environment Adviser Dost Muhammad Rahimoon said, planting more trees is need of the hour for environmental improvement. MQM-P's Muhammad Daniyal said, our proposals were not included in the budget in the pre-budget session of the Sindh Assembly. There is no drinking water in the city and the mayor claims to wash the streets with 'rose water'. Provincial Minister for Labour Shahid Thaheem drew attention of the house towards severe load shedding in the province where the power utilities increase outage times by two hours if complaints are lodged. He mentioned that although gas has been discovered near Shahdadpur, gas is not supplyied to the area. He demanded an increase in hospital funding. Mahesh Kumar of MQM-P said the budget lacks schemes that would allow the minority community to play a role. He demanded interest-free loans for minorities to help them start businesses. Dr Fauzia Hameed called the budget a budget of destruction. She said it may benefit a few families, but offers nothing for the public. She emphasised that Sindh's resources should be spent on its people. She questioned why the CM holds so many ministries, asking whether there are no other capable individuals. Jameel Soomro of PPP said, opposition always terms the budget anti-people, even though many taxes have been abolished in the current budget. Provincial Minister for Women's Development Shaheena Sher Ali said small loans will be given to women for small businesses. PPP's Ismail Rahoo pointed out water shortages and other public issues in his constituency. PTI's Rehan Bandukda mentioned water crisis in his constituency and said that Karachi has become the world's fourth worst city to live in. Najam Mirza of MQM-P said that discussion must be focused on the budget instead of praising the leadership. He described the budget as salt on the wounds of the people. Special Assistant for Public Health Engineering Saleem Baloch said, water scarcity is a critical issue. Last year, 29 schemes were completed, and 34 new ones have been added this year. PTI's Rehan Rajput said in his speech that the Sindh government proudly presented a budget with a Rs38 billion deficit. He claimed that 80 per cent of the budget is spent on just a few departments, which is wrong. PPP's Mumtaz Jakhrani said that a large number of teachers have been recruited in Sindh, and that NICVD centres are present at every divisional headquarters. He said Rescue 1122 now operates from Karachi to Kashmore and that no one serves the people like PPP. Senior minister Sharjeel Memon told the Deputy Speaker that a few words spoken during the debate on Thursday should not have been said on the floor. He requested that remarks about chief minister should be removed. MQM's Muhammad Rashid Khilji praised Sharjeel Memon's work against drug trafficking and questioned why the Excise Ministry was taken from him. The Sindh Assembly session was adjourned until 10am on Friday.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Pandemonium in Sindh PA as PPP, MQM MPAs trade allegations
KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly descended into chaos on Monday after a verbal clash broke out between members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), following allegations of nepotism levelled by MQM-P MPA Adil Askari against Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. Tensions flared when Askari, addressing the House, accused the Chief Minister of breaching good governance principles by appointing his brother-in-law as the Chief Secretary of Sindh. 'Murad Ali Shah is the Chief Minister of the province, and his brother-in-law is appointed as the Chief Secretary — this is clearly nepotism,' said Askari, triggering uproar from PPP benches. PPP's senior member Mukesh Kumar Chawla objected strongly to the statement, urging the acting speaker to expunge the Chief Minister's name from the proceedings. 'Such statements are not only provocative but unnecessary,' he asserted. As tempers rose, members of both parties stood up from their seats, exchanging sharp words and accusations, forcing the acting speaker to intervene. 'Do not address each other directly. Respect the sanctity of the House,' he warned, attempting to calm the heated atmosphere. The situation further deteriorated when another MQM member responded to PPP's Farooq Awan, referencing his past in the Sindh Police and questioning his silence during the early days of MQM's founder. 'If the MQM founder was a devil, as you claim, you should have shown courage back then instead of condemning him now when his politics has ended,' he remarked, adding fuel to an already combustible session. The confrontation overshadowed what was meant to be the start of a multi-day general debate on the provincial budget for fiscal year 2025–26. Earlier in the day, members from both treasury and opposition benches engaged in budget discussions, though political rivalries and deep-rooted grievances quickly dominated the session. Jamal Ahmed Khan of MQM highlighted critical civic issues in North Nazimabad, noting severe water shortages and dysfunctional waste management. He criticized the Karachi Mayor's claims about street cleaning. He also lamented that development schemes proposed by MQM had been discarded entirely from the budget. On the government's side, PPP's Shazia Kareem criticised the federal government for neglecting Sindh in the national budget, citing the exclusion of significant infrastructure projects like the Karachi and Hyderabad Motorways and the K-IV water supply scheme. 'Has Sindh become a slave of the federation,' she asked, further alleging that PWD schemes had been arbitrarily placed under federal control. Ejaz Shah Bukhari, another PPP lawmaker, invoked Karachi's past bloodshed, arguing that the PPP's dedication to public service had earned it a place in the people's hearts. He criticised the continuation of long power outages in Sindh and demanded the elevation of Tando Muhammad Khan Hospital to a district-level facility, as well as, the provision of a fire brigade to the local municipal committee. MQM's Abdullah Sheikh urged lawmakers not to incite ethnic tensions, referencing extortion-related violence in Surjani Town and warning against demonizing the Muhajir community. 'We have seen everything in Karachi,' he said, calling for calm and fair representation. PPP MPA Maliha Manzoor defended the budget, calling it a reflection of the party leadership's people-centric vision. She praised initiatives like the Sindh People's Housing Scheme, women's property rights for flood victims, and new public transport measures such as pink buses, electric scooters, and EV taxis. 'We are proud of the Sindh government,' she stated. On the opposition benches, MQM's Farah Sohail condemned the budget as 'anti-people,' arguing that even after 17 years in power, the PPP had failed to deliver. 'They boast about achievements in healthcare, but one of their own lawmakers took Rs 70 million from the government to seek treatment abroad,' she alleged. Ejaz-ul-Haq from MQM questioned the credibility of the PPP's development claims, saying, 'It feels like we're living in Japan — why don't we see any of this progress in Karachi?' He said there was nothing allocated for Orangi Town and repeated his long-standing demand for establishing a trauma centre at Qatar Hospital Orangi. PPP MPA Nuzhat Pathan said the federal government had completely sidelined Sindh, but despite that, a 'strong and balanced' provincial budget had been delivered — crediting the PPP leadership. She highlighted dysfunctional water services in Hyderabad and criticized WASA's poor performance. In a pointed remark, she claimed MQM had self-destructed. 'We are not eliminating them; they have already eliminated themselves,' she said. Another PPP lawmaker, Farzana Baloch, emphasised that the party's vote bank was growing steadily, which she saw as a sign of public confidence. She slammed K-Electric's over-billing practices, pointing out widespread illegal electricity connections in Karachi. 'People who pay are punished, those who don't are untouched. K-Electric has made life miserable. Whether acknowledged or not, PPP continues to serve.' From the PTI benches, Muhammad Owais criticised the arrest of his party's MPAs and workers during a recent youth rally, calling it political victimization. He also decried the exclusion of all opposition proposals from the budget and held the Sindh government responsible for K-Electric's ongoing failures. Despite repeated attempts by Acting Speaker Anthony Naveed to restore decorum, the session remained turbulent, reflecting the widening political chasm in the province. The assembly was ultimately adjourned until 10 a.m. Tuesday, leaving behind a day marked more by confrontation than consensus. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Uproar in PA over provincial budget 2025-26
The discussion on the provincial budget for 2025-26 commenced in the Sindh Assembly on Monday with several members from government as well as opposition benches voicing contrasting views. The session, with Deputy Speaker Naveed Anthony in the chair, saw mixed reaction as government members hailed the budget as a people-centric, while opposition members termed it as anti-poor and away from ground realities. Opening the debate, MQM-P's Jamal Ahmed Khan highlighted the problems in his constituency, saying that people in North Nazimabad were struggling for water. He said, the solid waste management system was dysfunctional, and trash remained uncollected for three days, negates city mayor's commitment of cleaning all areas and roads. Jamal questioned, which roads and areas he is talking about? PPP's Shazia Karim accused the federal government of discriminatory treatment towards Sindh. She criticised the exclusion of key projects including the Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway and the K-IV water project. She questioned, "Is Sindh a slave to the federation?" PPP's Ijaz Shah Bukhari said the people had not forgotten the days of bodies found in gunny bags in Karachi, asserting that the PPP had always stood by the public. He criticised the federal government's neglectful attitude toward Sindh, pointing out the ongoing 16-hour power outages in the province. He called for upgrading the Tando Muhammad Khan Hospital to the district level, increasing its budget, and providing a fire brigade for the local municipal committee. MQM-P's Abdullah Sheikh warned against maligning the Mohajir community through 'baseless allegations', while raising pointed questions about Zulfiqar Mirza from the gang war era. He mentioned an incident in Surjani Town where one person lost his life after receiving an extortion note. PPP's Maliha Manzoor defended saying, the budget was people-friendly. "Women flood victims will receive property rights. Pink buses are already operating in Karachi, and we plan to introduce EV taxis and scooters," she said. MQM-P's Farah Sohail slammed the budget as anti-people, saying the Sindh government continued the 17-year trend of ignoring public needs. She question, where the PPP's 'Roti, Kapra aur Makaan' has gone. She claimed that development funds were slashed and projects left uninitiated. She also criticised the government's health sector performance, pointing out that an assembly member was set to receive Rs70 million in public funds for medical treatment abroad. Ijaz Haq of MQM-P criticised the lack of budget allocations for Orangi Town and the continued neglect of the Qatar Hospital trauma centre. PPP's Nuzhat Pathan said, despite the federal government's neglect, Sindh has managed to present a better budget. PPP's MPA Farzana Baloch raised the issue of K-Electric's overbilling and its impact on Karachi's residents. "Those who pay are punished, while defaulters go unchecked," she remarked. PTI's Muhammad Owais condemned the recent arrests of party workers and MPAs, including former opposition leaders, during a youth wing rally. He criticised the PPP for ignoring opposition recommendations in the budget and failing to manage K-Electric's performance. MQM-P's Adil Askari accused Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah of nepotism and objected to the appointment of his brother-in-law as chief secretary which is against the principles of good governance. His comments drew strong backlash from PPP members. His remarks angered PPP members, leading to an uproar in the House. PPP MPA, Mukesh Chawla strongly objected to the speech and demanded that the chief minister's name be removed from the record, calling the statement 'unnecessary and inflammatory'. Following the objections, members from both parties stood up and exchanged harsh words, further escalating the tension. The session descended into chaos, prompting the acting speaker to intervene. The acting speaker urged the lawmakers, saying, "Please refrain from directly addressing each other. Maintain the dignity of the House." The situation intensified further when another MQM-P member addressed PPP's Farooq Awan, saying, "If, as you say, the MQM founder was a devil, you were probably an inspector in the Sindh Police back then. If you had the courage, you should have spoken up at the time. Now that his politics are over, there's no point in cursing him." Following the debate, the Assembly was adjourned until 10am on Tuesday. The debate is expected to continue over the next several days.
Express Tribune
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
City marks Youm-e-Takbeer
The city comes alive as Mayor Murtaza Wahab leads a Youm-e-Takbeer rally through Bagh-e-Jinnah, showcasing unity and patriotism. PHOTO: JALAL QURESHI/EXPRESS This year's Youm-e-Takbeer was celebrated with more pride and pomp owing to the success of the operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that May 28 is a symbol of Pakistan's defence sovereignty and national dignity. The CM said that Youm-e-Takbeer reflects national determination and the tireless efforts of our scientists. He said, "Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto laid the foundation of Pakistan's nuclear programme after India's nuclear tests in 1974 and declared we will build the atomic bomb." At a ceremony hosted by MQM-P near its Bahadurabad centre, Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said May 28 marks the fulfilment of Pakistan's foundational promise. He commended Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, calling him "a son of Karachi and the man who gave Pakistan an invincible defence." On appeal by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Ameer Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rahman, the JI Karachi chapter observed May 28 as Dr Abdul Qadeer Day on Wednesday. Camps were setup and banners were fastened in all union councils and towns to pay a rich tribute to the nuclear scientist. The Pakistan Markazi Muslim League held three major rallies across the city, attracting large public participation. The processions passed through key neighbourhoods including Tower, Orangi, Korangi, and Sohrab Goth, culminating at Mazar-e-Quaid. Pakistan Sunni Tehreek chief Shadab Raza Naqshbandi, addressing Fatah Mubeen seminars in several cities, said the 1998 nuclear tests restored strategic balance in South Asia. "We honour Dr Khan as a national hero," he said. Jamaat Ahle Sunnat Pakistan also held a convention in Lines Area, where Amir Allama Shah Abdul Haq Qadri highlighted the role of the nuclear scientists and armed forces. The event included expressions of solidarity with the people of Kashmir and Palestine.
Express Tribune
18-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
MQM-P sends budget recommendations to prime minister
Senior leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and Haqparast Senator Nasreen Jalil has written a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif containing recommendations for the 2025-2026 budget, urging tax relief for salaried and middle-income groups and measures to ensure the benefits of economic growth reach the grassroots level. In the letter Nasreen Jalil has stated that the dream of real economic development cannot be fulfilled without benefiting the poor and middle class. In this regard, a system based on innovative and modern economic reforms is essential for the country, she stated. Unfortunately, for over seven decades, the wealthy continued to grow richer and the lower-income white-collar class remained deprived of even basic necessities, the senator mentioned. A large portion of the population has now fallen below the poverty line, which stands as a major obstacle to building a strong, organised, and stable Pakistan. Nasreen Jalil further stated that the prime minister should play a key role in making the upcoming budget a reflection of public aspirations and take meaningful steps to address the deprivations faced by the 98 per cent majority. Delay in issuance of Hajj visas Meanwhile, the MNAs belonging to the MQM-P, have expressed serious concern over the delay in visa issuance for over 67,000 Pakistani pilgrims heading for Hajj. In a statement issued on Friday, the members stated that those who had booked their slots under various Hajj schemes are still awaiting their visas.
