960415

Amendment in

PA body report on

SLG bill rejected

KARACHI: An amendment moved by the opposition for incorporating in the report of Sindh Assembly's Standing Committee on Local Government in relation to the Bill providing for establishment of a Board for Water Supply in Karachi was rejected by the House on Monday.

Through the amendment moved by the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Farooq Sattar, along with Shoaib Bukhari, Kazi Khalid Ali, Rana Safdar, Feroza Begum and Salahuddin, the opposition members sought the circulation of the Bill for eliciting public opinion.

The amendment was, however, opposed by Law Minister, Pir Mazharul Huq.

Speaking in favour of amendment Dr Farooq Sattar said that various segments of the population including the intellectuals, politicians and journalistic circles "have demonstrated resentment against the Bill."Conferences and seminars were also organised in this regard, he added.

The leader of the opposition alleged that treasury benches were imposing their opinion without seeking public opinion. He said the composition of the Board for Supply of water the same as that of the Standing Committee which submitted its report on the Bill.

Replying to the objections raised by Dr Farooq Sattar, Pir Mazharul Huq said the rule in the rules of procedure has a clause for circulating the Bill to

elicit public opinion but there was no clause asking for giving an advertisement in newspapers to elicit public opinion.

He pointed out that since April 7, when this Bill was printed, so much had been written and spoken through newspapers and magazines. People had expressed their views frankly and some of the proposals were so positive that they were given due consideration and amendment brought in the report in the light of the same.

He said in view of this any further discussion on the report will be waste of time.

The amendment was put before the House and rejected by majority vote.

This followed the general discussion on the Bill with Law Minister being the first to speak on general principles.-APP