KARACHI, June 16: In what appeared to be a self-congratulatory session, the treasury benches in the City Council on Saturday rejoiced at the breakthrough in the investigation that has led to the identification of the ‘culprits’ behind the Nishtar Park bomb blast.

The jubilant Haq Parast members took no notice of the opposition’s strong protest and walkout against the constant denial of a debate on the May 12 incidents blamed by the opposition on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

Several Haq Parast Group members took part in a debate on the breakthrough, and while demanding exemplary punishment to the culprits behind the Nishtar Park suicide bombing, some of them expressed the confidence that “one day, in the same way, the culprits of the May 12 incidents and the assassins of Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Liaquat Ali Khan would also be identified.”

At the outset, the treasury benches moved a resolution praising the government and Leader of the Opposition in the City Council Saeed Ghani of Awam Dost Group, speaking on a point of order, complained that the treasury benches had adopted the new practice of keeping the opposition in the dark about the agenda of the council session until a few minutes before the start of the session. He also complained that the opposition’s resolution seeking a debate on the May 12 incidents had not been allowed to be tabled as yet.

Rejecting his contentions, the senior presiding officer, Masood Mehmud, who filled in for Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil, warned the leader of the opposition not to spoil the atmosphere of the house.

The chair’s attitude caused the opposition members to see red who registered their strong protest and staged a walkout. However, the treasury benches chose to go ahead with their debate without the opposition.