KARACHI, June 10: Budget session of the Sindh Assembly on Friday witnessed uproarious scenes for about 15 minutes before budget speech as MMA members protested against the arrest of their deputy parliamentary leader and a colleague.

PPP legislators also joined in, but to protest over the issue of NFC award.

As the session started at 5.15pm, Hameedullah advocate of the MMA raised a point of order to draw the attention of Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah to the arrest of Nasrullah Shaji, deputy parliamentary leader of the MMA, and MNA Mohammad Hussain Mehanti while the two legislators were on their way to the assembly building to attend the session.

Hameedullah advocate told the house that they had been locked up at the Preedy police station along with dozens of MMA workers who intended to march up to the assembly square to stage a sit-in in protest against political killings, particularly of an ex-MPA Aslam Mujahid and a local JI leader Tahir Jamal.

Chanting ‘shame…, shame…’ the opposition members, including PPP MPAs, supported Mr Hameedullah, who repeatedly claimed: “They were killed by MQM men and we have evidences to prove this.” He was also heard blaming other political killings, including that of PPP MPA Abdullah Murad, on coalition partners.

He demanded arrest of culprits, dismissal of provincial home minister and removal of the entire Sindh government for failing to fulfil its responsibility of protecting life and property of citizens.

The treasury benches, particularly the MQM, reacted strongly to the allegations and many of the treasury members stood up to counter them.

Mohammad Hussain of the MQM was heard saying that over the past few months, Jamaat-i-Islami and its student wing, Islami Jamiat Tulaba, had been maintaining links with underworld and were indulged in terrorist activities. “They were involved in extortion and Aslam Mujahid’s killing is the outcome of their own deeds.”

Mr Hameedullah tried to retort but the chair did not allowed him. The speaker then gave the floor to Senior Finance Minister Syed Sardar Ahmad and asked him to present the budget.

As the minister started his speech, all opposition members stood up and started shouting slogans to demand arrest of killers and dismissal of the Sindh government.

Leader of the opposition Nisar Ahmad Khuhro also made several attempts to speak on a point of order, but was not allowed by the speaker, who cited Rule 116 under which no item other than budget could be taken up in a budget session.

All MMA members, after recording their protest, staged a walkout and did not return.

PPP members, who were wearing black arm-bands, protested against the presentation of the budget without settling the issue of NFC Award. Describing this a violation of the constitution, they also staged a token walkout.

Although, PPP members returned to the house, some of them, including Mohammad Rafique, Zahid Bhurgari and Ms Sassui Palejo, continued to disrupt the budget speech on the issue, and repeatedly tried to draw the chair’s attention to the ‘worsening’ law and order, price hike, injustices with workers, insufficient increase in minimum wages, etc.

Finance Minister Syed Sardar Ahmad, ignoring the members’ outcry, went ahead with his speech which lasted one hour. He was then asked by the speaker to move the finance bill.

Later, the session was adjourned till Monday.