PESHAWAR, Jan 12: Irrespective of their political affiliations, the lawmakers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Wednesday showered praise on late Naseerullah Babar, though for different reasons.

Maj-Gen (retired) Naseerullah Babar, a leader of Pakistan People's Party, breathed his last here the other day.

A lawmaker of MMA said that Babar saved Afghanistan from anarchy by nurturing Taliban movement in the war-torn country. The members of PPP said that Mr Babar, who served Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as governor and also remained federal interior minister, was a clean and straight forward man.

The legislators of PML-N and ANP, both erstwhile staunch political rivals of Babar, termed him a man of courage, who had liberated Karachi from the 'target killers and extortionists'. Speaker Karamatullah Khan Chagharmatti, who was presiding over the proceedings, admitted a point of order of PML-N lawmaker Javed Abbasi to allow the house to pay homage to the late general and politician.

Mr Abbasi said that Gen Babar had rendered matchless services for the country. He said that he was a brave army officer and also served as a governor, interior minister and parliamentarian. He termed his death a great loss for PPP and the country.

He said that Babar had restored the writ of the government in Karachi and had taken on the extortionists. “The country needs another Naseerullah Babar,” he remarked.

MPA Qalandar Khan Lodhi of PML-Q said that he was courageous and brave army officer, who had to his credit restoration of law and order when Karachi was literally burning in 90s.

PPP parliamentary leader Abdul Akbar Khan said that he had been with Mr Babar for 35 years.

He said that Gen Babar had introduced reforms in tribal area when he was governor. Hafiz Akhtar Ali of MMA said that Gen Babar relentless efforts ended up in stability when Afghanistan was rapidly moving towards anarchy. Rising of Taliban proved detrimental in bringing stability to the war-ravaged country, he said.

“The history of Afghanistan will be considered incomplete without mentioning services of Gen Babar,” he remarked.

Despite political and ideological differences with the 83-year-old general from Pirpiai of Nowshera district, no one could deny the gallantry and professionalism he had shown while struggling for democracy, said Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain.

“He was a bold army officer as well as a sincere politician,” he said, adding that Gen Babar returned his military awards in protest when late Bhutto was hanged to death. He said that Gen Babar was dedicated leader of PPP and late prime minister Benazir Bhutto was her great admirer.

Earlier, through a call attention notice PPP-S lawmaker Israrullah Khan Gandapur drew the house's attention towards incident of target killing in his constituency in Dera Ismail Khan district. He said that followers of a specific sect had been killed in the area. He also demanded compensation for the victims.

Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour said that he would issue directives to the police officers concerned to submit a detailed report about target killing and also enhance security in the area. The house was adjourned till Thursday morning.