In all, four questions related to the works and services department were taken up during the question hour that started an hour and a half behind the schedule.
The issue of language came up when lawmakers objected to the use of word ‘Qabzo’ (which is usually used in terms of illegal and forcible occupation) for ‘permanently occupied’ in the Sindhi translation of the written answer to a question asked by Pakistan People’s Party lawmaker Fayaz Ali Butt in 2009.
The written answer said that some government officials had ‘permanently occupied’ some rooms of Sindh House. According to a list presented in the house, of the 10 officials holding the rooms, five were associated with the president’s house.
While the portfolio of works and services is currently with Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who was not present in the house, Law Minister Ayaz Soomro responded to supplementary questions.
When PPP legislator Saleem Khursheed Khokhar asked if the occupation of the rooms by the officials was illegal or whether they were legally allotted, Mr Soomro termed it a translation mistake and said the rooms were not in illegal occupation and were officially allotted.
Sattar Rajpar of the ruling PPP, Khalid Ahmed of the MQM and other lawmakers complained that whenever the provincial assembly members went to Islamabad they were denied accommodation at Sindh House and the permanent excuse was: “All suites are already occupied.”
The law minister had no proper explanation and said, “You should contact the department concerned in the Sindh government before going there.” He added that 28 new rooms have been constructed.
In his supplementary question, Arif Jatoi of the National Peoples Party asked about the VIP suite in Islamabad’s Sindh House which, according to Jatoi, instead of being reserved for the speaker of the Sindh Assembly has been occupied by the chief security officer of President House.
The law minister said that it was not reserved for the Speaker, but the chief justice of the Sindh High Court, senior ministers of Sindh and others. He claimed that the suite was no more occupied by federal government officials.
The issue of language came up when lawmakers objected to the use of word ‘Qabzo’ (which is usually used in terms of illegal and forcible occupation) for ‘permanently occupied’ in the Sindhi translation of the written answer to a question asked by Pakistan People’s Party lawmaker Fayaz Ali Butt in 2009.
The written answer said that some government officials had ‘permanently occupied’ some rooms of Sindh House. According to a list presented in the house, of the 10 officials holding the rooms, five were associated with the president’s house.
While the portfolio of works and services is currently with Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who was not present in the house, Law Minister Ayaz Soomro responded to supplementary questions.
When PPP legislator Saleem Khursheed Khokhar asked if the occupation of the rooms by the officials was illegal or whether they were legally allotted, Mr Soomro termed it a translation mistake and said the rooms were not in illegal occupation and were officially allotted.
Sattar Rajpar of the ruling PPP, Khalid Ahmed of the MQM and other lawmakers complained that whenever the provincial assembly members went to Islamabad they were denied accommodation at Sindh House and the permanent excuse was: “All suites are already occupied.”
The law minister had no proper explanation and said, “You should contact the department concerned in the Sindh government before going there.” He added that 28 new rooms have been constructed.
In his supplementary question, Arif Jatoi of the National Peoples Party asked about the VIP suite in Islamabad’s Sindh House which, according to Jatoi, instead of being reserved for the speaker of the Sindh Assembly has been occupied by the chief security officer of President House.
The law minister said that it was not reserved for the Speaker, but the chief justice of the Sindh High Court, senior ministers of Sindh and others. He claimed that the suite was no more occupied by federal government officials.
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