KARACHI, May 31: Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly Rahila Tiwana, who acted presided over the requisition session on Tuesday as acting speaker in the absence of Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, has defended her decision to prorogue the session after two hours of deliberations.

Talking to a group of journalists in the chamber of the speaker, she said another wave of terrorism had struck Pakistan to weaken the government and block the ongoing development works in the country.

The suicide attack by three terrorists on Madinatul Ilm and the killing of ex-MPA Aslam Mujahid were part of the same conspiracy under which suicide bomb attack had been carried out at the Bari Imam shrine. She said that those who had torched public and private properties were also accomplices of the terrorists.

Justifying her order, she said that she had received threatening calls on Monday night and Tuesday morning that what happened at Madinatul Ilm could happen at the assembly building also.

Ms Tiwana said that the threat was discussed with the secretary of the assembly whereas the chief minister was also informed of the situation. Assuring all possible measures to protect the assembly and citizens, she added, the chief minister left up to her to take a decision. “And I found it pertinent to prorogue the session for the safety and security of the members,” she added.

In reply to a question, she said she had invited Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on Monday night to discuss modalities of the session with a view to facilitate business and prevent the members from indulging in trivial issues. Mr Khuhro, she claimed, had promised to come out with his opinion at 3pm, but did not turn up. “Today, at 10am, he informed me that due to the situation obtaining in the city, only 27 members could make it by 11.45am. Later, three more joined them and it was agreed that they would be allowed to raise issues on points of order and that the treasury members would not obstruct the proceedings.”

The others’ requests for an extension in the time of the session were declined by Senior Minister Syed Sardar Ahmed, she maintained, saying that Mr Khuhro had duly been informed of the minister’s view.

She also pointed out that when she had asked the members if they had any point of order to raise, no one responded and, as such, the house took up the agenda.