KARACHI, Dec 8: As the Sindh Assembly resumed debate on law and order in the province on Monday, the discussion lacked depth and the members from either side failed to highlight fundamentals of the problem properly.
While the opposition cited various incidents to embarrass the government, the treasury benches countered it either by making noises or praising the police for their efficiency in handling the law and order situation.
Considerable time was wasted on fateha and uncalled for points of order.
Nasreen Chandio of the PPP initiated the day’s debate by trying to pin-point contradictions in the government position. In this context, she said that when seven people were killed, the IG Sindh termed the incident ‘a result of personal enmity’; but the advisor on home affairs came out with complaint about his helplessness claiming that his people were being killed. The chief minister described the law and order situation as satisfactory. She observed that killing of innocent people had become order of the day, railway tracks were being targeted, Karo-kari continued to claim lives, yet the government kept claiming that law and order was satisfactory.
Defending the government, Mr Jarrar Haider of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement said there was an improvement in the situation. He argued that only police should not be held responsible for the maintenance of law and order. Treasury and opposition sides should also play their role. He said that if law and order was not maintained effectively, there could be no development and the situation could be exploited by internal and external enemies. He called for reforms in the police department and ensuring employment for the jobless.
Ms Sharfunnisa of the PPP alleged that police excesses were on the rise and claimed that police were involved in drug and human trafficking, victimization of political opponents and humiliating women.
She alleged that police had let loose a reign of terror in Dadu. She also claimed that corruption was rampant.
PML’s Dr Bhagchand demanded that honest police officials should be posted and the Madadgar system should also be introduced in small towns of the province.
Abdul Razzaq of the National Alliance claimed that law and order had improved in Mithi and said that it could further be improved if legislators also played their role.
Makhdoom Jameel-uz-Zaman of the PPP suggested that MPAs should be inducted in the Public Safety Commission and decisions should be taken while keeping collective interests of the people and not on the basis of political victimization.
MQM’s Farheen Ambareen claimed that restoration of law and order was the responsibility of the city government which should play its role in this regard. She said that the institutions which did not fulfil their responsibility, should be dealt with accordingly. She said that since 1992, as many as 22,000 people had been killed in Karachi. She was of the view that police system had improved and there was no political victimization.
Ms Sassi Palejo was, however, of the view that opposition members were being subjected to worst kind of victimization under the present government. She said that MPAs were being implicated in false case to coerce them into subjugation.
Minister for Excise Rauf Siddiqui informed the House that 10 maunds of charas had been seized on Monday and claimed that there had been marked improvement in the attitude of police and Rangers. He said that the criminals involved in sectarian killings and bomb blasts had been arrested. He said that religious parties now could not carry weapons in rallies. He also claimed that extortion had been curbed since
the promulgation of the ordinance.
Jam Mahtab Hussain claimed that law and order situation was bad in Ghotki where, he alleged, police were not registering FIRs in many cases. He was of the view that if the amount being spent on the Rangers was used in ensuring required capability and increasing salaries of police, law and order situation would definitely improve.
Mir Naseer Khan Khoso spoke of poor law and order situation in Jacobabad. PPP’s Dr Sohrab Sarki also endorsed his views and said the situation was so precarious on the borders with Balochistan that a DIG (Abdul Aziz) was killed but no one could be arrested. There was no cooperation between the Sindh and Balochistan police, he alleged, and claimed that people were being abducted. He warned that if immediate steps were not taken against criminals, they would make it impossible for law-abiding people to live peacefully.
Dr Farheen Mughal of the PPP referred to the killing of Janib Mahar in Sukkur court, Zeeshan Kazmi in Karachi, Shazia Khaskheli in Sanghar and also of a journalist, Amir Bakhsh Brohi, to refute the government’s claim of an improvement in the law and order situation.
Minister Dr Saeeda Malik complained of a lack of interest in debating the issue of Karo-kari and also called for a perfect training for the police.
Deputy Speaker Rahila Tiwana said that instead of criticizing police, proposals should be put forward on reforms in the department. As Asma Shirwani was on her feet, holding feudal system responsible for the precarious law and order situation, Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah adjourned the debate until Wednesday.
Mr Mohammad Hussain also chaired the House for some time.
Earlier, on points of order, problems being faced by people owing to the cut away date for the cancellation of old NIC cards was raised by members from both the sides. Leader of the opposition Nisar Khuhro demanded extension in the cut away date. Excise Minister Rauf Siddiqui complained that in many areas, applicants were being harassed and delaying tactics were being adopted by the concerned staff.
The Speaker suggested that if both sides had some grievance, they should make joint motion in this regard.