April 20, 2006	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 21, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, April 19: A Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) member of the National Assembly on Wednesday demanded more security for parliament members against terrorist attacks, sparking a clash of words with a rival from the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) alliance.

MQM’s Kunwar Khalid Yunus said security arrangements at Parliament House and parliamentary lodges were inadequate and added that “any day any incident can take place”.

He cited a deadly explosion at the Iranian parliament some years ago and the attack on the Indian parliament later, and said that the government should give special attention to the safety of the parliament here in view of the coming budget and recent incidents of violence in the country.

Deputy Speaker Sardar Mohammad Yaqub, who was presiding over the proceedings at the time, called the MQM member’s point valid.

The MMA member Liaqat Baloch acknowledged the importance of the point raised, which, he said should be discussed in a committee of the house. But he invited the other member’s ire by making some sarcastic remarks about the MQM and asked if any attack had been planned. However, an exchange of remarks ended after chair expunged the MMA member’s remarks about the MQM.