KARACHI: Sindh Assembly members on Tuesday agreed unanimously to constitute a House committee to examine the recommendations and findings against Karo-Kari.

The consensus for constitution of the House committee emerged among the treasury and opposition benches of the Sindh Assembly on Tuesday on a resolution tabled by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement woman MPA Heer Ismail Soho.

Through her resolution she stated that this house was of the opinion that the murders committed in the name of Karo-Kari be treated as culpable homicide under Section 302 PPC and recommends to the Sindh government to approach the federal government to amend Section 302 PPC accordingly.

Opposition member Syed Qaim Ali Shah suggested an amendment to the resolution and said that the Sindh government should request the federal government to allow this House for legislation and amendment in the PPC.

However, the amendment was ruled out by majority votes when the Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah had put it before the House for voting. The amendment was rejected by 56 votes while 44 votes were in favour to the amendment. The Law Minister also opposed the amendment and said this amendment was a clash with the federal government laws.

The speaker also pointed out that this amendment would be clash with the federal laws. However, Qaim Ali Shah said that it was a provincial subject and it was in the interest of the Sindh.

The situation was very interesting when the law minister supported the amendments moved by the provincial minister Dr Saeeda Malik but the Muttahida MPA, Muhammad Hussain, opposed it and said this amendment would change the original resolution and suggested that a House committee be constituted to examine this.

The speaker expressed his anger over the non-serious attitude of the women members when they shouted at each other, calling each other “mad”.

Later, the House agreed to constitute a committee to examine the findings and recommendations on this issue and the chair adjourned the proceeding to the following day(Wednesday)as members from the treasury benches did not want to extend the time for the proceeding.

Source: Dawn

Date:11/12/2003