KARACHI, June 21: Opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on Monday slammed the government for running away from his proposal for a special slot during the current budget session to discuss the recent wave of terrorism and threats.

Speaking at a news conference in his assembly chamber on Monday, Mr Khuhro said that following the target killing of Munawwar Suhrawardy and the threats received by other PPP members, he had proposed that time should be allocated for a discussion on law and order situation in the context of recent wave of terrorist attacks in Karachi which had claimed more than 70 lives.

Mr Khuhro cited the assembly's June 11, 1985 debate on budget and said that during the discussion, a special sitting was held to deliberate upon the issue of Chashma-Jhelum Link Canal. Last year also, he recalled, the assembly had done the same when Mr Raziq Khan had been killed.

Mr Khuhro, terming Mr Suhrawardy's killing 'a big loss' said that offering fateha and condoling with his family would not resolve the matter. Pointing out that Abdullah Murad (MPA) and Munawwar Suhrawardy had been killed and more PPP MPAs were receiving threats, he said that in this situation the party wanted the government to hold a debate on law and order.

He alleged that the government was running away because some elements within it were patronizing those involved and were, perhaps, conspiring for the imposition of governor's rule on Sindh.

Mr Khuhro also criticized the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and remarked: "If they wanted to impose governor's rule on Sindh, they should abandon hypocrisy." He warned that Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim would also be held accountable for acts of his coalition partners.

Mr Khuhro also circulated photocopies of a newspaper clipping containing 'highly objectionable four-line stanza' and described it as confession by MQM of Munawwar's murder. He claimed that when he tried to bring this matter to the notice of the house, MQM members hurled abuses and created a rumpus.

Speaking on the occasion, Syed Qaim Ali Shah said the attitude of treasury benches was negative. He was critical of the Ms Rahila Tiwana, Deputy Speaker who chaired Monday's session, for not allowing the opposition to discuss Mr Suhrawardy's killing.