KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly on Monday called upon the federal government to secure safe release of Prof Ajmal Khan, Ali Haider Gilani, Shahbaz Taseer and other innocent captives from the custody of the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan making them to reciprocate to the goodwill gesture of releasing Taliban prisoners amid the ongoing dialogue between the TTP and the government.

This demand was made in one of the eight resolutions passed by the house unanimously during its session when tabled one after another on five subjects by lawmakers with the relaxation of rules under Rule 256 of the rules of procedure of the provincial assembly.

The resolution demanding that the federal government negotiating committee ensure that the gesture of goodwill was reciprocated by the TTP. Tabled by PPP lawmaker Sharmila Faruqi and after brief endorsement speeches by Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker Syed Khalid Ahmad, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MPAs Samar Ali Khan and Khurram Sherzaman, it was put to vote and was carried unanimously.

Mr Ahmad in his speech criticised the federal government saying what message was being given to the nation by releasing Taliban prisoners ‘unconditionally’.

The PTI lawmakers said there had been a lot of improvement in the situation as no bomb blasts had occurred since the initiation of the peace process. They added they were against all sorts of terrorism irrespective of which party might be involved in it.

The resolution reads: “This assembly strongly recommends to the federal government to secure safe release of Prof Ajmal Khan, Ali Haider Gilani, Shahbaz Taseer and other innocent captives in the custody of the TTP in the ongoing negotiations. It has been stated by the federal interior minister that 19 Taliban prisoners have been released and 13 more are being considered to be released as a “goodwill gesture” to help the ongoing peace dialogue. Therefore, the federal government negotiating committee should ensure that this gesture is reciprocated by the Taliban.”

Child footballers praised

Among the seven other resolutions passed were the three praising the Pakistani child football players who secured the third position and won the bronze medal in the Street Children Football World Cup in Brazil.

In the resolutions, tabled by Sania Naz of the PPP, Irum Azeem Farooque of the MQM and Mr Sherzaman of the PTI with signatures of their colleagues, the house congratulated the team.

“These children have overcome the life of being homeless exposed to violence, drugs and petty crimes before taking part in the street child world cup. This is the first step to bring them off the streets to a normal life. The kids are a role model to the rest of children on the streets, who if trained can be useful citizens of Pakistan.

“This is not only a triumph on the football field for Pakistani nation but also for the street children of Pakistan all over the country,” the resolution said.

PPP lawmaker from Lyari Saniya Naz in her resolution lauded the courage and hard work of the team and urged the government of Sindh to continue supporting the children.

She said: “Lyari is the heart of Karachi whose children have brought name and fame to Pakistan.”

Irum Azeem, Begum Bilqees Mukhtar and Aamir Moin Pirzada of the MQM said that every Pakistani was proud of the team though it had no formal patronage.

The PTI lawmaker urged the Sindh government not only to give them a warm reception on their return but also give them a due reward for their outclass performance.

Dr Nand Kumar of the PML-Functional said the children deserved appreciation for bringing a good name to Pakistan.

Social welfare minister Rubina Qaimkhani said that besides contribution of the Azad Foundation, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the British Council, it was the Sindh government that had given them training for four months and helped them with their travel documents. She said all children were from Sindh, except one who was from Quetta. She said the team was returning home on Tuesday and we should give them a befitting welcome.

Electricity tariff hike

A resolution tabled jointly by Mr Ahmad and other MQM lawmakers criticised the decision of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority to increase the electricity tariff for Karachi’s consumers by up to 70 per cent despite the fact that the rates of diesel and petrol had decreased in the local market and the dollar had also become cheaper than before.

The house recommended to the Sindh government to approach the federal government to instruct Nepra not to increase the tariff.

After the resolutions, Speaker Siraj Durrani, who called the house in order at 11.25am, adjourned the session at 3pm to resume business on Tuesday, which would be a private members day.

Earlier, leader of the opposition Syed Faisal Sabzwari drew the attention of the speaker towards the killing of MQM activists recalling that in a previous session he had referred to the killing of four MQM activists and urged the government to take its notice, and two more MQM workers, who were taken away by law-enforcers in an APC in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, were found dead two days later.