Leader of opposition decides to oppose Sindh Accountability Bill 2017

KARACHI: Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly Khwaja Izharul Hassan on Friday expressed concern over the proposed Sindh Accountability Bill 2017 and decided to oppose it in the assembly.

“The opposition was against the provincial accountability law, therefore they would oppose the proposed bill in the assembly,” Khwaja Izhar told the meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and attended by several opposition leaders.

Syed Sardar Ahmed of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Nand Kumar of Pakistan Muslim League-F (PML-F) and Haji Shafi Jamote of Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) were also present on this occasion.

The meeting was held in a bid to take the opposition into confidence.

The chief minister said that it was the democratic right of the opposition to oppose or support the bill.

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“I have not bothered you here to come around our view but the purpose of convening this meeting is to take you (opposition) into confidence on the proposed bill,” he said.

The CM was assisted by Transport & Information Minister Syed Nasir Shah, Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar and Avocate General Sindh Zamir Ghumro.

During the meeting, Murad briefed the opposition leaders in the Sindh Assembly about the need of the provincial accountability law. He said that he and his legal team believed that the `measures to curb corruption’ was a provincial subject right from the date of enforcement of 18th constitutional amendment.

“We are late by few years but now we have decided to introduce the draft accountability bill in the assembly on Monday,” he said.

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He told the meeting that under the proposed accountability law the appointment of chairman would be made through provincial assembly while the director general and prosecutor general, the two other important positions, would be made in consultation with the chairman.

Briefing the opposition leaders on the contents of the draft law, Zamir Ghumro said that there would be no clause for plea bargain.

Ziaul Hassan Lanjar told the leader of opposition and other parliamentary leaders that the draft bill was being finalized and he would provide them the copies, if they desire so.