Opposition uproar mars Sindh Assembly session

The Sindh Assembly session was plagued by disruptions from the opposition on Friday, with deputies raising slogans of "Sindhudesh Na Manzoor" and clamoring for order. The session, chaired by Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah, commenced after a significant delay from its 2:30 pm start time. Despite the speaker's attempts to restore calm, the opposition's shouting and chanting continued, making it difficult to hear the proceedings.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar presented an audit report, but the noise prevented most of it from being comprehended. Adviser to the Chief Minister on Human Settlements Najmi Alam attempted to address questions from lawmakers regarding the Katchi Abadis Department, stating that only settlements established before 2011 would be regularized through leases, while those established after would be treated as encroachments and not leased.

He emphasized the necessity of a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Board of Revenue for leasing and noted that no new settlements could be formed without it. Alam also mentioned that 50% of the funds collected from Katchi Abadis were invested in their development. He attributed Karachi's growing population to ongoing migration from other regions of the country.

Regarding the Lines Area project, he explained that it falls under the jurisdiction of the Local Government Department, with a project director appointed. A board meeting would be convened within 10-12 days to decide plots for the resettlement process, and property ownership would not be granted to individuals already possessing property elsewhere.

The government proposed the construction of "Sasti Bastis" (low-cost settlements) where low-income individuals could acquire houses through installment plans, with the government providing land and facilitating the scheme but not constructing the houses itself. Alam stated that the removal of residents from storm-water drains was the responsibility of the district administration, and efforts were underway to grant ownership rights to those in Tharparkar and Umerkot lacking proper documentation.

He also announced that survey forms would be distributed in Katchi Abadis to prevent illicit property transactions. Amid the uproar, MQM lawmaker Amir Siddiqui moved a call-attention notice concerning the severe water shortage in Karachi, specifically mentioning the difficulties faced by residents of Adam Colony and Soldier Bazaar.