ISLAMABAD: Condemning the terrorist attack on a bus carrying members of the Ismaili community in Karachi, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) members staged a token walkout from the Senate on Wednesday over the alleged “failure” of law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and the federal and Sindh governments to protect people.

The Senate passed a unanimous resolution “condemning the inhuman and brutal firing incident and expressing sympathies with the families of the victims”. The resolution was read out by the PPP’s Karim Ahmed Khwaja.

“The law enforcement agencies have failed to provide protection to poor people. We are not satisfied with their disappointing role,” said the MQM’s Tahir Mashhadi before announcing that his party would stage a walkout.

Senate resolution condemns Karachi tragedy

Deputy Chairman of the Senate, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, who was presiding over the session at the start, had to suspend the question hour to allow the members to speak on the ghastly incident through points of order.

Later, the house witnessed a more than two-hour-long debate during which the members, particularly from the MQM, targeted the Sindh government over its “failure” to protect the lives of the people of Karachi whereas the PPP senators defended the government, terming the latest incident a reaction to the ongoing operation against militants.

Mr Mashhadi said the attackers were “beasts” and called for awarding them an exemplary punishment. He alleged that banned organisations were freely carrying out their activities in Karachi and their members were even holding public meetings and rallies under “protection” from some quarters.

The parliamentary leader of the PPP, Saeed Ghani, said that the Ismaili community was the most peaceful community in the country. He recalled that the country had earlier witnessed major terrorist acts, such as the assaults on the army GHQ and naval base in Karachi.

Several officials of police and Rangers had been killed in the ongoing operation against militancy, he said and added: “We have to stand behind those fighting terrorists.”

Karim Khwaja said the attack could be a reaction to the country’s achievements like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project and the recent visit of the prime minister and the army chief to Afghanistan, in which the two countries had affirmed their resolve to continue their fight against terrorism.

Khushbakht Shujaat of the MQM alleged that terrorists had dens in Karachi from where they operated. In an apparent reference to a raid on the offices of her party, she said the action against political parties could not be called “operation”.

She warned that the situation could go out of control, if the state failed to provide protection to the citizens.

She said that terrorists were targeting Karachi because it was the financial hub of the country. She alleged that a majority of police personnel had been deployed to provide security to VIPs.

Another MQM Senator, Tanvirul Haq Thanvi, asked the government not to make claims about restoration of peace in Karachi as the bus attack had exposed their failure.

The PML-N’s Saleem Zia said the Ismaili community was involved in serving people and had launched many welfare projects. He claimed that law and order situation had improved in Karachi after an effective operation against terrorists.

Shahi Syed of the Awami National Party called for cleansing Karachi of arms and ammunition and intensifying the operation against terrorists. He said a huge quantity of weapons was present in the city.

The PPP’s Sassui Palijo said that efforts were being made to ensure peace in the mega city but the bus attack had sent a wrong message. She, however, expressed annoyance over the criticism of the Sindh government by the members in their speeches.

Senator Nighat Mirza of the MQM alleged that Taliban had captured some areas of Karachi where their presence had been felt over the past 10 years. “The government has lost its writ in some parts of Karachi like Sohrab Goth and Al-Asif Square.”

Instead of raiding Nine-Zero, the MQM’s headquarters, raids should have been conducted on the strongholds of terrorists in the city, she said.

Maulana Ataur Rahman of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl) said that no sect was safe from terrorist attacks. He asked all political forces to unite and adopt a joint strategy to eradicate terrorism.

Later, Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani informed the members that over 200 complaints had been received by the Senate Secretariat since launching of the public petition system on April 28.

He said 27 of the complaints had formally been referred to the relevant standing committees for action and scrutiny of the others was underway.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2015

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