KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker and leader of the opposition in the Sindh Assembly Khwaja Izhar-ul-Hasan has said that these days the MQM is in troubled waters to such an extent that even a passer-by threatens them. However, he added, all the party lawmakers were united and the MQM was not facing any threat from any other party.

Khwaja Izhar, who came to the assembly on Tuesday for the first time since the last sitting in March, said the MQM was criticised and threatened on TV channels continuously for hours, while the party was given one-line ticker space in the electronic media.

He was responding to a question after the assembly session about his long absence from the house. He was asked if he was receiving threats or there was some sort of pressure on him. Besides, he was also questioned about other MQM lawmakers’ absence from the assembly.

“The MQM legislators are before you while those who are not seen, goodbye to them,” said Khwaja Izhar. He added that his opponents instead of becoming instrumental in weakening the MQM ought to strengthen their own wickets among the masses.

In reply to another question, the lawmaker said the MQM would field candidates on all the seats, which fell vacant after the resignations of a couple of lawmakers, in the by-elections. He expressed the hope that the people would repose their trust in the MQM.

PA session adjourned

Earlier, the Sindh Assembly session was adjourned on Monday to mourn the death of its member Sardar Muqeem Khan Khoso soon after Fateha was offered for the MPA and others.

Sardar Khoso, a Pakistan Peoples Party legislator elected from Jacobabad PS-14 in the 2013 general election, died after a long illness in a local hospital on Sunday.

Before the house was adjourned, which was called to order by Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani at 11.15am, tributes were paid by a number of lawmakers across the floor to the late Mr Khoso for his contribution to legislation and services to the area people.

Senior minister for parliamentary affairs Nisar Ahmad Khuhro recalled that Sardar Khoso was a veteran politician who had represented not only his Sindh Assembly constituency but also had been a member of the National Assembly.

Mr Khuhro also tabled a motion to the house for adjourning the session. With the unanimous approval of the motion, the chair adjourned the session.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2016