KARACHI: The dominating mood of the Sindh Assembly session on Wednesday remained solemn as activists of civil society staged a protest outside the assembly building against ‘recovery of mutilated bodies of youths’ and members of almost all parties condemned in unison extrajudicial killings.

The sitting brightened up for a brief period with the presence in the speaker’s gallery of Mai Aasoo, an embodiment of courage and commitment who, despite being disabled had devoted her life to the promotion of education.

Many lawmakers paid rich tributes to Mai Aasoo, declaring her the Malala of Sindh who had raised stature of woman in Sindh and Pakistan by running a school of 300 girls and boys in the most backward area of Tharparker without caring for name and fame.

Of the eight resolutions passed unanimously, four were tabled by Nandkumar Golkani, Mahesh Kumar Malani, Khairunnisa Mughal and Nusrat Sultan, which paid rich tributes to Sobho Gianchandani who rendered exemplary services for language, literature, democracy and political rights.

A resolution recommended establishment of chairs named after Sobho Gianchandani in the universities of Karachi and Sindh.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro said that besides creating chairs, roads, parks and important buildings should be named after the great man.

Of the remaining four resolutions one was tabled by Syed Faisal Sabzwari, demanding the Sindh chief minister should take up the issue of brutal murder of Bao Mohammad Anwar, vice president of MQM in Sialkot a day ago, with the federal government and asking the Punjab chief minister to take stern action against the killers.

Another resolution tabled by MQM’s Dr Zafar Kamali condemned the brutal killing of political workers and requested the Sindh government to take stern measures against the culprits.

Two other resolutions were tabled by Dr Sattar Rajpar and Dr Sikander Shoro of PPP which pertained to condemnation of extrajudicial killings of political workers, who were picked up and after a few says their mutilated bodies were found.

The house which was called to order at 11 am by Deputy Speaker Syeda Shehla Raza was adjourned sine die (without assigning a day for a further meeting or hearing) after completion of the agenda at 3.35 pm.

Earlier, the house echoed with voices of deep concern over the issue of recovery of mutilated bodies of various political workers and demanded the Sindh government constitute a judicial commission to investigate the gory issue.

The house condemned in strong words the throwing of mutilated bodies of political workers who were picked up from roads or while going to educational institutions and later they turned up dead.

The lawmakers said that it was an extremely sensitive issue and expressed the need that the opposition and the government should take a joint stand to stop extrajudicial killings.

Dr Abdul Sattar Rajpar, who is one of the movers of the resolution, called for judicial probe into such killings. By his resolution, he recalled that as a signatory of international declaration of human rights, this assembly reiterated its unshakable commitment to observe human rights in letter and spirit.

He said the assembly condemned violation of human rights in any form, at anytime and anywhere in the world. It also expressed deep concern over such incidents in Sindh.

Dr Sikander Shoro said in his resolution that: “This house strongly condemns recovery of mutilated bodies of various political workers in Sindh and demands the Sindh government constitute a judicial commission to probe the killings”.

He said that recovery of mutilated bodies on the pattern of Balochistan appeared to be a part of a conspiracy. He feared non-political elements were bent upon depriving people of their rights. “It is the responsibility of all of us to expose the elements behind mutilated bodies.

Mehtab Akbar Rashdi of PML-F said that those throwing bodies had not descended from sky. “If there is democracy, facts be disclosed which elements are involved in it, even if agencies are involved, the facts should be disclosed,” she said.

Earlier, MQM lawmaker Syed Faisal Sabzwari, who was wearing a black armband like his colleagues to mourn the killing of MQM Sialkot leader Bao Anwar, said that it was not the first instance that an MQM leader had been targeted in Punjab, before him MQM lawmaker Tahira Asif who was the lone member of MQM in Punjab Assembly was killed in Lahore.

He said that if people were killed on the basis of ideology and political affiliation and if it was a message to the MQM to roll back its politics and not spread the message of Altaf Hussain among the downtrodden and oppressed people of Punjab.

The resolution read out by Sabzwari said: “Such brutal attacks on our party leaders in Punjab and other provinces had sent a wave of shock and resentment among party workers. Hence it is demanded the federal government must approach chief minister of Punjab and ask him to take immediate action against the culprits”.

MQM’s Muhammad Hussain said that in Punjab becoming a member of MQM had been made a crime. If any political worker of any party was involved in any crime he should be brought to justice, he said.

Another resolution tabled by Dr Zafar Kamali of MQM said: “This house resolves on the international day of human rights that political workers belonging to different parties, especially MQM, are being brutally murdered after kidnapping generally throughout Sindh especially in Karachi”.

It said: “This house condemns the brutal killing of political worker and requests that the Sindh government should take stern measures against the culprits”.

Soon after the resolution was passed, the house was informed by MQM parliamentary party leader Syed Sardar Ahmad that so far no action had been taken by Punjab police and MQM lawmakers walked out of the house in protest.

The house witnessed another walkout when Leader of Opposition Shaharyar Mahar protested against the Sindh Public Private Partnership (amendment) Bill which was taken up for consideration immediately after its introduction. He said that an attempt was being made to run the house like a dictator.

After their walkout, the treasury party smoothly carried out all legislation business from the order of the day in the absence of the opposition

Out of total nine bills, including the one introduced out of turn and taken up for consideration at once the Private Public Partnership (Amendment) Bill, five bills were passed.

The other four bills included The Larkana Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (Sindh administration) Bill, The Sindh Employees Old-age Benefits Bill and The Sindh School Education Standards and Curriculum Bill.

Out of five bills, three bills - The Sindh Workers Welfare Fund Bill, The Sindh Mass Transit Authority Bill and The Sindh Senior Citizens Welfare Bill were referred to the standing committee concerned while The Sindh Allied Health Professional Council Bill was only introduced.

Published in Dawn December 11th , 2014