KARACHI, April 12: Issues of delay in printing of textbooks and soaring prices of meat, sugar, wheat and other essential items were raised in the Sindh Assembly which on Monday continued deliberations on the murder of MPA Abdullah Murad.

When the issue of textbooks was raised by the leader of the opposition, Nisar Khuhro, he was informed by education minister Irfanullah Marwat that the delay occurred because the district governments did not provide funds.

Two district governments have not yet provided necessary funds, he said, adding free distribution of textbooks will commence this month. Mr Khuhro also raised the issue of closure of water courses in Matli and firing at the residence of Nazim of Union Council 11 in which a woman was killed and three others were injured.

He assured the law minister that the matter was being looked into and officials concerned would be called thereafter. With regard to water courses, he said that the point had been noted.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement's Bilqis Mukhtar raised the issue of soaring prices. She said that those responsible for price control be asked to take measures.

Earlier, when proceedings began at 11am, only the law minister was seen on the treasury benches while the opposition had occupied seats much before 10.30am. And when Quranic verses were being recited, members trickled into the house.

When the matter on murder of Abdullah Murad came up for discussion, concern was expressed over the incident and failure of the concerned authorities to apprehend the culprits.

Nine members expressed their views, with Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah in the chair. Sindh health minister Naeem Ishtiaq said murder of any individual is deplorable and maintained that such incidents were part of a conspiracy to undermine law and order situation.

He said that dissent was the cardinal part of democratic dispensation and in that Abdullah Murad's point of view would always be remembered. He said that in the aftermath of his murder, three innocent people were also murdered. High level investigations were being conducted, he said and deplored the killings.

He said that reti-bajri and land mafia could be behind his murder. He emphasised the need for not trying to score points on his murder. Farheen Mughal of the PPP, who was weeping while addressing the house, said that Abdullah Murad was murdered challenging the criminals and mafias.

He was gunned down because he had tried to expose the killers of Hajra and Sassi. She asked "why the FIR of Abdullah Murad's murder is not being registered. If someone else's MPA would have been murdered, the city would have been plunged into another bloodbath."

While Mr Muhammad Hussain was in the Speaker's chair, Mrs Mughal said that she was receiving threatening calls and claimed that her life was in danger. She claimed that after Abdullah Murad, she was the target but warned that if any harm came to her, she would hold the government responsible for that.

Provincial minister Qamar Mansoor emphasised that instead of hurling accusations at each other and politicising the murder of Abdullah Murad, attempt should be made to reach at the root of the incident.

He also asked the members to take notice of the manner in which City Nazim was treated when he had gone to attend the funeral of Abdullah Murad. PPP's Ghulam Nabi Shoro expressed dissatisfaction over investigations in Abdullah Murad's case.

MQM's Bilqees Mukhtar said the government would not do anything that would have negative impact and create difficulties for it. Abdur Rahman Rajput of the MMA, Nawab Wassan and Shamimara Panwhar of the PPP condemned the murder.

Provincial minister Imtiaz Shaikh said the opposition could lodge another FIR through the courts or the judicial commission and called upon the heirs of Abdullah Murad to cooperate with the investigators. The house was then adjourned to Wednesday morning.