KARACHI, April 7: Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly Nisar Khuhro on Friday accused the government of failing to provide security to people while unleashing a reign of terror against the voice of dissent against the military-led regime.
Speaking at a news conference, he also accused speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussin Shah of violating his own ruling that generated rumpus in the Sindh Assembly, leading to its adjournment without giving the opposition an opportunity to give vent to its grievances.
Mr Khuhro said that the opposition wanted to raise the issue of threat to human life at the hands of security agencies, government action against old goths and dwellings besides the problems being faced by growers, but the Speaker did not honour his own ruling.
Mr Khuhro expressed grave concern over the manner in which the government had laid a siege on residence of Akhtar Mengal.
“When the bomb blast occurs in a bid to eliminate Hassan Turabi, the government security agencies express their ignorance about the culprits but they don’t spare Akhtar Mengal’s children and follow them to their school,” said Mr Khuhro while drawing attention to the government’s attitude.
In the context of cancellation of arms licence of Mr Mengal, Mr Khuhro said “if somebody is being disarmed, is the government prepared to take responsibility for his security”.
He expressed concern over excessive involvement of security agencies in the running of the military-led regime, which he alleged was engaged in the suppressing voice of dissent.
Accusing the regime of effectively managing the country through one party rule, Nisar Khuhro said the regime was doing dangerous politics with agriculture sector as well by denying “baradana” (bags) to those who do not belong to the group of cronies.
He alleged that distribution of bardana through nazims to the cronies” would seriously affect growers of wheat in the province.
With regard to demolition of goths and old settlements, Mr Khuhro said the opposition wanted to raise the issue because despite unanimous resolutions against their demolition, the government was making people homeless.
He said that end of Gothabad scheme was indicative of a conspiracy.
He mentioned demolition of various villages in Karachi and Hyderabad and pointed out that while poor people were being deprived of shelter, land was being reclaimed from sea to build the creek city to benefit a few.
Nisar Khuhro also slammed the government plan to for a coastal district comprising Thatta. He said that the plan was originally envisaged during Zia regime who had planned to create such an entity from Jiwani to Badin and beyond for handing it over to foreign investors.
Mr Khuhro was critical of the Speaker who, he alleged, flouted his own ruling and did not allow the opposition to raise issues after the question hour, though he had assured to allow points of order after the questions.
Instead the chief minister was given the floor. The house was not prepared to hear him and the opposition protested over Speaker’s partisanship, he said.
