KARACHI, Dec 5: The Sindh Assembly on Friday resumed debate on law and order situation in the province amid criticism of the measures taken by the government to improve it.

As the debate resumed, after Eid recess, with Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah in the chair, the House witnessed heated exchanges. Members from treasury and opposition benches traded accusations with the government side defending the ongoing crackdown on religious parties and jihadi outfits.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal members indulged in a brief verbal brawl.

While the government members asserted their claimed of a ‘significant improvement’ in the law and order situation, the opposition side insisted that the situation was not good at all. The opposition members pointed out that about 50 million people were living below the poverty line and many people were resorting to commit suicide.

Law and order cannot be described as satisfactory while worshippers are gunned down and a former speaker Abdul Raziq Khan, as well as people like Khalid bin Walid, Mustafa Kamal and Nishat Malik are murdered, they argued.

They warned that unless social disparities were addressed and youth provided jobs, such a situation would persist because criminals instigated desperate people to take up arms.

Stressing that unemployment was a major cause of frustration, the opposition members observed that though the economy had improved, its impact had not trickled down to the common man.

When the debate commenced, deputy parliamentary leader of the MMA Nasrullah Shaji claimed that over the last one year, there had been a phenomenal increase in extortion and dacoities in Karachi and Hyderabad. Once again, bodies packed in sacks are found elsewhere in the city and cases against hundreds of accused have been withdrawn, he deplored.

He demanded that the House be informed about the number of people released on parole. He also criticized the provincial government for its failure to deal with tribal feuds.

Dr Hameeda Khuhro of PML-Q called for fundamental changes in police. She said that people at large were dejected and economically oppressed. Owing to unemployment, they were resorting to commit suicide. These factors contributed to the precarious law and order situation in the province.

Dr Khuhro complained that the federal government was not according real provincial autonomy whereas the Centre-provinces relationship was not good.

She emphasized the need for amending police laws and a pay-raise for police personnel. She also called for equipping them with sophisticated arms.

PPP’s Ghulam Qadir Chandio alleged that government elements were responsible for the precarious law and order situation. Many innocent women have been killed under the custom of Karo-kari, he said, and deplored that waderas and other influential figures had taken law in their hand and sentencing people to death through jirgas.

He criticized the government for failing to contain the rising trend of theft, dacoity, car-snatching and suicide.

Mr Chandio alleged that the government was pursuing a policy of vengeance against the opposition and referred to the incident where his car was attacked in Nawabshah and an FIR was also lodged against him.

Mr Mustafa Kamal of the MQM, hitting back at those describing the law and order situation bad, said how would they relate it with the past situations where brother of a sitting PM was murdered.

He claimed that Al-Qaeda elements were hiding in the houses of the leaders of religious parties and, as such, the ongoing operation was a justified action. As Mr Kamal continued criticizing religious parties, Nasrullah Shaji stood up to refute the allegations. He said that “We are not runaway nor are murderers... we have not sought refuge in London... we will not accept everything that the US is claiming.”

Mr Kamal argued that for being a Muslim, it was not necessary to become a member of a religious party.

The Speaker had to intervene to prevent the two members from continuing with the acrimonious exchanges.

The Speaker adjourned the session for the day.