Sindh Assembly oath-taking marred by rowdy scenes

KARACHI — Amid slogans of "Jeay Bhutto" and "Bibi Zinda Hai" and acts of vandalism allegedly by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) supporters, 161 members out of 168 of the newly-elected Sindh Assembly took oath yesterday administered by the provincial Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah.
Hundreds of PPP supporters forced their entry into the Sindh Assembly Hall, despite strict security around the building. They smashed the windows and doors and torn portraits of two former Sindh chief ministers Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Liaquat Ali Jatoti into pieces.
Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, who had returned from abroad just hours before the session, claimed that some political activists manhandled him inside the assembly building.
The session started late due to several factors including delay in issuance of passes.
All PPP legislators wore black armbands not as a protest, but to show their respect for the slain party chairperson Benazir Bhutto.
The PPP legislators, specially women, throughout the session kept banging their desks as well raising slogans and each member held portrait of Benazir while signing on register.
One aspect that surprised many people was that the members took oath in three different languages. Two Awami National Party (ANP) and one MQM member, Dr Mohammed Ali Shah took oath in English.
This is the first time that ANP won seats in Sindh Assembly. Majority of Sindhi members took oath in their mother tongue.
In a House of 168, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is the largest single party and has simple majority in the House with 89 members, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) 51, PML-F nine, PML-Q eight, NPP and the ANP two each. The PS-30, PS-44 and PS-62 seats were lying vacant because of various reasons while court stayed PS-12, PS-15 and PS-97.
A decision about one minorities seat is still to be taken. Besides the Election Commission had declared three seats vacant.
PPP had already nominated Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Nisar Khuhro and Pir Mazharul Haq for the posts of Chief Minister, Speaker and Parliamentary Leader respectively in the House. Later MQM leader, Shoaib Bokhari, told newsmen that his party would put up candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker offices, a decision somewhat seen against the spirit of two parties' decision to bury the past and work together in the best interest of the country following discussions between Asif Ali Zardari and Altaf Hussain. The election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker and Chief Minister will be held tomorrow. Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad is expected to administer oath to the new chief minister on Tuesday.