KARACHI: Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Shaharyar Khan Mahar and Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani have traded serious allegations, accusing each other of patronising criminals and being responsible for worsening law and order in their areas.

They hurled accusations at press conferences held one after the other in their chambers in the assembly building on Monday.

Mr Mahar claimed without naming the speaker that an important political leader of the PPP was patronising criminals and religious extremists in Shikarpur district to harass his political opponents and achieve political objectives.

He said that according to a report published in the vernacular press, the Shikarpur Imambargah blast was an outcome of collaboration between criminals and religious extremists. They had also planned to attack the hospital when political leaders were visiting the injured but failed to execute it, he said.

He said that he and his father MNA Sardar Ghaus Bux Mahar and Dr Ghaffar Jatoi were in opposition. Dr Ghaffar had been attacked twice but miraculously escaped unhurt. The attempts on the life of Dr Ghaffar and planned attack on the hospital had more political connotations than religious, he said.

He said: “People who are being kidnapped from other cities are being released in our areas, which is proof that criminals are being patronised in Shikarpur. Garhi Yasin where the PPP leader lives has become a no-go area.”

Over the past one year or so, 84 families including many Hindu ones had migrated from Garhi Yasin because of worsening law and order conditions, he said.

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Mr Durrani responded to the allegations at a hurriedly-called press conference and said that he would welcome the Rangers and army operation in Garhi Yasin which had turned into a no-go area after the two tribes which were his supporters were pitted against each other.

He accused Mr Mahar of telling lies and hurling baseless accusations and said both Mahar and his father were Zia remnants. Mahar had suddenly become active because of the prospect of local bodies elections, he said, adding FIRs lodged at the area’s police stations proved who was patronising criminals.

Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2015

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