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KARACHI: Members of the Sindh Assembly demanded on Monday an immediate end to political interference in the transfers and postings in the police department and stressed the need for tenure posting.
The demand came during the Sindh Assembly session when the house initiated a general discussion on the law and order situation in the province on a motion moved by Law Minister Ayaz Soomro.
Sardar Jam Tamachi of the Pakistan People’s Party observed that no one could deny that the situation in Karachi was quite serious.
Tracing the history of deterioration in the system, he said since 1985 when new districts were carved out as fiefdoms to influential people, where postings of officials, especifically those of the police, were made on their choice. But now the situation called for a pledge not to make political interference at least in the police and education departments and all postings be made on merit and the officials be given a free hand with tenure postings otherwise the system would further deteriorated, he observed.
Muhammad Anwar Mahar of the PPP said that progress could not be possible without peace and protection of life.
He said without ensuring justice and elimination of corruption the situation could not improve.
He also called for providing better wages and facilities to the police.
Lyari situation
Minister Sassui Palejo said the law and order situation was not restricted to Lyari alone and similar conditions prevailed in other parts of the city also. Therefore, she said, people asked them that why the operation was being carried out only in Lyari and why its parameter was not being expanded to criminals in other areas.
Manzar Imam of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement said that why Karachi and other towns of the province were being targeted where people were being kidnapped for ransom and those who failed to pay ransom were being killed.
He referred to the localities of Kati Pahari, Banaras Colony in Orangi and asked the authorities that which elements were active there and who had turned those localities into killing fields.
He warned of a conspiracy to trigger sectarian riots and said that the same had been averted due to efforts of the MQM and PPP leaderships.
He said his elders had selected Sindh as their permanent abode like old Sindhis, and had come here to live and die.
Tahir Qureshi of the MQM said it was not an operation in Lyari but a war where criminals were using heavy weapons, firing rockets and throwing hand-grenades at law-enforcement personnel.
Speaker Nisar Khuhro put off further discussion on law and order till Thursday.
Privilege motion against PML-F legislator
Senior Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq moved a privilege motion against MPA Marvi Rashdi of the PML-Functional and the speaker referred it to the house committee on rules of procedure and privileges.
In his motion, he pointed out that on April 27 Syeda Marvi Rashdi on a point of order before this house had levelled false allegations against him and his wife alleging falsely that she had been promoted recently illegally and on favoritism and posted as an additional secretary in the education department.
He said his wife was appointed in 1976 and was selected by the Sindh Public Service Commission in 1978 as a chemistry lecturer in BS-17 and was promoted to assistant professor in BS-18 in 1993 and finally she was promoted by the provincial selection board in 2008 to BS-19 as an associate professor.
“Presently, she has been posted as additional secretary (Academic) in the Education department and prior to her posting there, a number of associate professors were posted against the said post and I can produce a number of precedents in this respect.
The false allegation of Syeda Rashdi has tarnished my and my family’s image, which has adversely affected me in the performance of my duties as a member of this august house and enjoyment of my right and privilege admissible to me under the law.”
After the motion was presented, Rashdi wanted to respond but as the rules did not permit a discussion, the speaker did not allow her to make a statement.
Later, Rashdi told newsmen that whatever she had said she stood by that as the posting of the education minister’s wife was against merit and she would produce evidence at a meeting of the committee to prove her point of view.
She said she was threatened in the morning that either she extend an apology or a privilege motion would be moved against her. She said she would never give in to such threats.
After the motion was referred to the committee, the house, which was called to order at 11.30am, was adjourned at 2.30pm to meet on Thursday at 9.30am.
Earlier, the house passed into law the government bill No 27 of 2011— The Colonization of Government Lands (Sindh Amendment) Bill, 2011 — which was tabled by the law minister.
Saleem Khurshid Khokhar of the PPP, who had moved a privilege motion in the last sitting, was informed by the law minister that an FIR was registered at the Clifton police station on April 28. As he was satisfied with the explanation, he did not insist on the admission of his motion.
Similarly, he did not press his adjournment motion about the occupation of a Christian school building in Madina Colony, Korangi 3-1/2, by the land mafia as the building had been vacated by its occupant.
The PML-F’s Jam Madad Ali stood on a point of order to extend an apology to Pir Mazharul Haq as a member of his party had named his wife. He protested over certain remarks of the information minister, whereby she, without naming anyone, had said that the education and democracy was spoiled when Gen Ziaul Haq imposed martial law and who got support from those who openly claimed to be a man of the GHQ.
He also referred to the harsh attitude of Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah towards the PML-F lady lawmaker and said if they did not like to see the PML-F in the coalition, they should say so.
The finance minister said as the PML-F lady lawmaker was interrupting him, he had to ask her to keep quiet and it was her attitude that her party leader had to ask for an apology.
Pir Mazhar appreciated the spirit of Jam Madad Ali and said if the lady lawmaker had sought an apology, he would not have moved his privilege motion.
Rashdi refused to say sorry to the education minister, saying she stood by her words.
Speaker Khuhro said members should avoid making personal remarks and should be careful about their words as the proceedings of the house were telecasted live.
