17 April 2004	Saturday	26 Safar 1425

KARACHI, April 16: Barring a few rounds of altercation between the treasury and opposition members and a brief suspension of proceedings resulting from the heated exchanges, the Sindh Assembly session on Friday remained peaceful.

As many as 12 members spoke on the killing of MPA Abdullah Murad during the discussion which is the one-point agenda of the ongoing session requisitioned by the opposition. Most of the members strongly condemned the killing and some of them described it as 'murder of the people of Malir'.

They also deplored the government for failing to arrest any of the culprits and for its stubborn attitude with regard to the lodging of an FIR by the MPA's relatives. "The mourners are observing his Chehlum today, but Mr Murad's heirs are still waiting for just a nod for lodging the FIR," one of them regretted.

Expressing concern over the poor law and order situation, they pointed out that while MPAs, police stations and Rangers personnel appeared vulnerable to terrorist attacks, arms were recovered from an official vehicle given under the use of a minister.

Dr Mehreen Bhutto of PPP said that 25 years back, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had been killed, and 25 years on now, Abdullah Murad was eliminated. General were motivated to eliminate Z. A. Bhutto and terrorists were used to kill Mr Murad, she remarked. He lamented that even the speaker of the assembly had not bothered to ascertain any progress towards police investigation and progress in the MPA's killing.

Ms Kulsoom Nizamani of MMA reminded the house that the legislature was under obligation to ensure safety of people and restoration of justice. "How many of us may claim of fulfilling the obligation?" she asked.

Stressing on the government's responsibility to find out the killers, she pointed out that Mr Murad's mother had offered Rs10 million reward for the one who could help arrest the culprits.

Ms Nuzhat Pathan of PPP said though the killers had gone scot- free at this moment, they would be exposed sooner or later. Criticizing the government's apathy towards the tragic incident, she lamented that in the case of the explosion near the venue of a show organized for Indian vocalist Sono Nigam, the sketches of the accused had been released with in an hour, but the sketches of Mr Murad's killers could not be prepared or released even 40 days after the killing.

Ms Sara Shaliani of PPP said Abdullah Murad had been punished for raising his voice for protecting daughters of Sindh. "Now it is the duty of the daughters of Sindh to raise their voice for the arrest of his killers," she added.

Ms Sharfun Nisa Leghari of PPP said that Abdullah Murad was a brave and bold human being who had launched a crusade against the brutal murder of two innocent girls Hajra and Sassi of Gadap.

Nasrullah Shaji of MMA, paying tribute to the person and services of Abdullah Murad, said that there was a long list of reasons why the anti-social elements had to eliminate the MPA, who was an asset of the assembly. He said that some of the reasons were his courageous stand on the Gadap killing, his daring drive against extortion and terrorism, his active role in defeating the 'reti-bajri mafia', etc.

The investigations conducted so far pointed to a specific style of assassination, Mr Shaji observed, and added that Hakim Mohammad Said, Abdul Raziq Khan and Khalid Bin Waleed were some of the other figures who had fallen victim to the group carrying out such killings in this style. "It is not difficult to expose the culprits, especially when arms and masks have recently been recovered from the car of a minister," he remarked.

Mr Shaji pointed out that three suspects let off with their weapons by the police in the arms recovery case, had been involved in heinous crimes. Why had they been freed? he asked.

He criticized posting of FC personnel to protect police stations following attacks on police and Rangers. Ridiculing the move, he said that police stations should be closed down and people be allowed to keep weapons for their own security on the pattern of the system in tribal areas.

"Those who think they would be able to hold the city hostage with the might of their guns, are sadly mistaken," he declared. Mr Shaji recalled that the adviser to the CM on home affairs had said that the incident of the Raza Square had been the outcome of a clash between Muttahida activists and underworld elements.

The MMA leader argued that MPA Muhammad Hussain had on record said in the house that three Muttahida workers had been killed and that fateha be offered for them. "Why did not the Muttahida's intelligence wing come out with its report on the Raza Square incident or the recovery of arms from a minister's car?" he questioned.

Jam Mehtab Dar of PPP slammed that the FIR of the Murad murder case had been lodged on behalf of the state, as if the victim had no heirs. He deplored that in the 17 days of debate on the issue, the government did not come out with a single report on the tragic murder.

He urged the speaker to fulfil his duty of seeking the report from the government. If the house did not fulfil its responsibilities, he apprehended, the number of martyrs in the house would start soaring.

Mr Asardas of PPP said Abdullah Murad's murder was the outcome of a conspiracy. The authorities' refusal to register a genuine FIR was a proof of the claim, he added.

Maulana Ehsanullah Hazarvi of MMA called for activating all government agencies for the arrest of Mr Murad's killers. Otherwise, he warned, the terrorist would dare to target more legislators. He pointed out that within this house, a minister had tried to attack MPA Yunus Khan who was also subjected to threats.

Mir Naseer Khan Khoso of PPP-Patriots it was the duty of legislators to ensure restoration of justice to the heirs of Mr Murad. Mohammad Usman Malkani, a minister, said that the killing of the MPA was shocking. He acknowledged that Mr Murad had been playing a commendable role in mobilizing the provincial government against those lifting reti-bajri from the Malir riverbed illegally.

However, the minister said, the opposition should not make the killing a political issue. He said the government was on the right track in the investigations into the killing.

Mr Yunus Barai of MMA held the government responsible for the MPA's murder, and expressed apprehensions about the safety and security of common man in such a situation where even legislators, police personnel, Rangers and police stations could not be provided adequate security.

Claiming that he was misquoted by the Muttahida's intelligence wing, Mr Barai demanded that the house should be apprised of the profile of the MQM intelligence wing so that other parties could also be able to have such an institution of their own. Mr Barai was on his feet when the speaker adjourned the session for the day at about noon. The house would now meet at 9.30am on Monday.