MQM stages walkout from PA against ‘harassment’ of lawmakers

Published May 3, 2016
Security personnel check vehicles at the entrance to the Sindh Assembly building on Monday.—Online
Security personnel check vehicles at the entrance to the Sindh Assembly building on Monday.—Online

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmakers on Monday staged a token walkout from the Sindh Assembly session in protest against the alleged harassment of and attacks on their elected representatives by those belonging to the MQM-Haqiqi and over an indifferent attitude of law enforcers and the provincial government.

They also lodged protest over keeping in prisons their arrested workers whose lives, they said, were at risk.

The walkout was staged after a fiery speeches by MQM lawmaker Mohammad Hussain Khan and leader of the opposition Khwaja Izhar-ul-Hasan. While drawing the attention of the house through a point of order, Mr Khan said their delegation had called on Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah on the issue yet the situation had not changed. He added that nine Muttahida lawmakers and other local government representatives elected from Landhi, Korangi, Malir, Shah Faisal and Lines Area were allegedly being harassed by Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi activists, with police failing to take action against them.

Responding to the point of order, Senior Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Nisar Ahmad Khuhro informed the house that the MQM delegation had called on the chief minister who assured them that their complaints would be addressed. However, he added, he would let them know what measures had been taken to redress the grievances after inquiring into the issue.

Mr Hasan said it was their third meeting with the chief minister during the past one year. He said MQM workers, leaders and lawmakers had staged a sit-in in protest against the forced disappearance of their colleagues and informed the chief minister about it in writing. The issue was also raised in the house but to no avail, he added.

If the chief minister was so powerless, he should admit it openly, said Mr Hasan. He said the relevant minister, secretaries of the respective departments and even the chief minister were not present in the house. That’s why when the chief minister came to the house the lawmakers got an opportunity to see him to get their problems solved, he said. “This conduct will not work. We are staging a walkout in protest,” he said while all the lawmakers belonging to the Muttahida walked out of the house.

Responding to the remarks of the leader of opposition, Mr Khuhro argued as to why leader of the opposition was so angry. When the chief minister had met MQM lawmakers in the house, they raised objection. What they want, he asked and said the ongoing targeted operations had been launched in Karachi on their request, Mr Khuhro said.

The minister said there was an improvement in law and order after a number of killings and arrests across the city. He said the chief minister was making all-out efforts to ensure law and order in Sindh.

As the day’s business was completed, the house, which was called to order at 11.15am by Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, was adjourned at 2.10pm to reassemble on Tuesday morning.

Earlier, PPP lawmaker Ghulam Qadir Chandio, who was the first member of the house to get the floor after the completion of agenda, talked about suffering of the people who had not been provided the required Hepatitis B & C vaccine free of cost as per government policy. Even the vaccines, which had been provided, were not effective, he added.

The delay in the delivery of the vaccines was caused by some litigation issue, said parliamentary secretary Dr Sikander. He vowed that the required vaccines would be made available after May 22.

Earlier, on the call attention notice of Pakistan Muslim League-Functional lawmaker Nusrat Sahar Abbasi, senior minister Nisar Khuhro informed the house that 126 shops were constructed at the A-Section police station in Khairpur in 2014 with the police chief’s approval whose income directly deposited in the police welfare fund on the pattern of social welfare fund established by other forces.

In reply to the call attention notice of MQM lawmaker Syed Nadeem Razi, Sindh Minister for Local Bodies Jam Khan Shoro said that the complaint about illegal transfers and postings in Korangi district by the town administration had been denied after an inquiry into the issue. He added that if lawmakers had any proof, they should provide it to him so that further inquiry could be conducted.

Responding to the notice of PML-N lawmaker Syed Amir Hyder Shah Sheerazi, Mr Khuhro said there was no report about sale of drugs in Mirpur Sakro under police supervision, while the excise and taxation department had instituted 281 cases and arrested 297 suspects during the last year.

In reply to the call attention notice of MQM lawmaker Naheed Begum, Mr Khuhro said the government had taken various measures to check cheating in intermediate and other exams and action was taken against those found indulging in copying answers during the exams. Also, he added, a scheme was under consideration to build big halls at the level of union councils to use them as examination centres.

In response to a notice of MQM lawmaker Naila Muneer, the health minister said the government had taken several measures to protect people from heatstroke by setting rehabilitation centres at various public places. In Karachi alone, he said, 171 centres had been set up. Besides, the power distribution companies had been asked to reduce loadshedding hours in summer.

The adjournment motion of PTI lawmaker Khurram Sherzaman regarding sugarcane price issue was ruled out of order by speaker after hearing senior minister and arguments from its mover on its admissibility.

Meanwhile, the speaker informed the house that the governor gave assent to Sindh Local Government (Second Amendment) Bill, 2016 and Sindh Local Government (Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2016.

The house also gave approval to the motions tabled by the senior minister for extending the date of presentation of the report of the bills regarding transport, primary and seconday health, labour, human resource, higher technical education, research school education and special education.

Published in Dawn, May 3rd, 2016

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