KARACHI: Govt slammed for blocking opposition move
By Our Reporter
KARACHI, Nov 3: The combined opposition in Sindh assembly on Friday slammed the ruling coalition for preventing it from moving a resolution condemning what it termed extra-judicial killing of innocent people.
Speaking at a news conference after the adjournment of brief but rowdy session of the Sindh Assembly, leader of the opposition Nisar Khuhro, claimed the treasury benches role in defeating the move was a “shameful act” and regretted those who had been making a case against extrajudicial killings, were silent on Bajour killings and actions in Balochistan.
Nisar Khuhro, who was accompanied by Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leaders also, pointed out that NWFP and Balochistan assemblies had unanimously passed resolutions condemning Bajour killings.
In this process even the members of ruling Muslim League had supported the resolution.
Mr Khuhro recalled that after the Bajour incident, MQM founder Altaf Hussain was the first not only to condemn it but also demanded bringing the facts before the people. But regretted that MQM MPAs did not support the opposition resolution calling for the same.
Nisar Khuhro said during the 55-day sitting, the assembly had not done any legislation because of such attitude of the ruling coalition.
He said the government was claiming to act responsibly but when the issue of Bajour killing and desecration of Quran were raised, it ran away. Perhaps it did not consider it important enough.
Mr Khuhro was also critical of the Speaker, Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah’s role and said the opposition had only staged a token walk out but he adjourned the proceedings to please the rulers. Nisar Khuhro said the government had summoned the session just to complete the remaining 18 days of the current calendar.
He claimed that Speaker’s ruling was also against the Rules of the Sindh Assembly. He said that MMA had deposited its motion on the issue on Thursday while the PPP did the same on Friday morning. MMA deplored the Bajour killing while the PPP also demanded constitution of a parliamentary committee to investigate the killings.
Speaking on the occasion, deputy parliamentary leader of the MMA Nasrullah Shaji slammed the regime’s action in Bajour and claimed that the rulers had no proof to support their claim that inmates of madressah were being given terrorist training.
He said that the government had not recovered any weapon from there and, therefore, concocted the story that students were being prepared mentally to become suicide bombers.
He was critical of the MQM and said its press statement was only to hoodwink people as their role in the assembly was highly negative and anti-people.
He claimed there was evidence that American planes attacked the madressah in Bajour. He demanded that joint committee of the Senate and National Assembly be formed to investigate the matter.
He charged that government was claiming responsibility of this brutal act of terrorism fearing backlash from people and claimed the rulers had put country's sovereignty at stake.
MMA MPA condemned MQM's attitude for opposing the resolution, saying its leaders' actions were contrary to their statements and added they did the same during previous US attack at Damadolla and on assassination of Nawab Akbar Bugti.
He said that MMA had tried to present a mild resolution, aimed at condemning killings of innocent students, saying similar resolutions had been adopted by NWFP and Balochistan assemblies but the ruling coalition including MQM proved that they had nothing to do with common people of this country.
"People of Sindh want to know why MQM support extra-judicia killings of people in NWFP and Balochistan although it was against such killings in Karachi in recent past" he asked.
