Opposition parties protest against adjournment of Sindh Assembly session summoned for Tuesday.

KARACHI -- A select number of Sindh Assembly members representing Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf (PTI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) here on Wednesday had a mock session of the house registering their protest against adjournment of the emergency session requisitioned to discuss COVID-19 related challenges in the province.

The meeting, held at Sindh Assembly's staircase, was chaired by Member Provincial Assembly (MPA) Syed Mohammad Hussain of MQM and addressed by leader of the opposition Firdaus Shamim Naqvi (PTI), Kunwar Naveed Jameel (MQM) and Nusrat Sahar Abbasi (GDA).

The speakers expressing strong reservations about conduct of Speaker, Agha Siraj Durrani, who put off the sitting Tuesday evening only after calling it for Wednesday, mentioned that this was done for the second consecutive time in recent past - since the corona virus crisis has hit the province, particularly its capital Karachi.

It was also reminded by them that despite repeated claims by the Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah that all political parties with their representation in the provincial assembly would be included in consultations with regards to measures required to handle the COVID -19 challenge, no opposition party was ever taken on board nor invited to any of the meetings.

MPA Firdaus Shamim Naqvi said they were compelled to hold their sitting on assembly premises as the issue was directly linked to the economic survival of the province and its people.

He alleged that economy of Karachi was being deliberately destroyed and since the ruling party could not come forward for any explanation about its policies, pulling the province and its capital towards destruction, hence has adopted undemocratic tactics.

"We wanted the emergency session to discuss issues, including the much needed expression of gratitude to the Allah that COVID -19 induced situation in our country is largely under control as compared to even the US where, despite emergence of the cases being witnessed at the same time as ours, yet human loss continues to be tremendous while on our side it remains largely controllable," said the leader of the opposition in the provincial assembly.

He also expressed his astonishment as why the federal government and three other provincial governments were on the same page and have opted for a single approach to handle the situation while Sindh government was trying to make things difficult for the masses.

"They (Pakistan People...