KARACHI: Opposition Leader in the Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh claimed on Tuesday that the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party has transformed into an “anti-democratic party”.
“The manner in which PPP has been conducting assembly proceedings is an undeniable evidence of the violation of democratic norms and traditions in the province,” said Sheikh. The opposition parties are being denied democratic rights and privileges specified under the Constitution, he claimed.
The opposition leader said that entrusting the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to the opposition was an important point of the charter of democracy that the PPP was a signatory of.
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“Contrary to agreed principle and practice at the national level, PPP in Sindh not only declined opposition leader’s appointment as PAC head but they never included a single member from opposition benches in the committee,” said the PTI leader. He claimed that the opposition was not included in the PAC as the PPP wants to clear several audit objections.
“If you do not like to see Haleem Adil Sheikh chairing the PAC, name any other opposition legislator for the post or at least ensure opposition’s representation in the committee as members,” said Sheikh.
The opposition leader noted that in the National Assembly opposition leaders have been designated chairpersons of different parliamentary committees but in the Sindh Assembly all the standing committees lack the opposition’s representation.
“It demonstrates double standards of PPP leadership who boasts of democratic norms in the centre but as soon as they land at Karachi airport their approach converts into authoritarianism,” he alleged.
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While giving reference to the National Assembly, Sheikh said that the PTI government followed “democratic traditions” by providing the opposition with ample opportunities to participate in parliamentary proceedings. He claimed that despite this the opposition in the Sindh assembly was continuously deprived of their constitutional rights and role.
Haleem Adil Sheikh recalled that he was not allowed to deliver his speech as leader of the opposition during the budget session although it was mandatory.
“During the ongoing session of the assembly the joint opposition’s agenda was put aside while their resolutions and adjournment motions were not being taken on the floor despite their significant nature,” he claimed.
He also alleged that the deputy speaker was receiving “dictation” from certain members of the ruling party in Sindh.
