National Assembly: Tensions mount as MQM walks out of house

Party leader flays govt for turning a blind eye to targeted killings, seeks immediate action.

ISLAMABAD:

Protesting against the fresh spate of targeted killings in Karachi, lawmakers from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) staged a walkout from the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Condemning the Karachi killings, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said that he  had discussed the issue with the Sindh governor and chief minister and called for a report.

The MQM’s walk out came amid escalating tensions in the wake of the murder of a party worker on Monday. Continuing for a second consecutive day on Tuesday, the death toll from violence, ostensibly political in nature,  rose to 10.

The session also saw the prime minister announce a revolving fund for civilian terror victims.

Addressing angry legislators, the prime minister said money from the proposed fund would be diverted towards the rehabilitation of lives and infrastructure in militancy-hit areas across the country, particularly the north. He, however, did not specify how much seed money would be used to establish the fund.

Thousands of civilians have been killed in militant attacks since the country stepped up to join in on the US-led war on terror in Afghanistan.

Unlike the families of members of slain servicemen who receive hefty compensation, civilian families rarely, if ever, get any monetary assistance if their members die as a result of violence.

Gilani said the fund was aimed at lessening the miseries of terror victims and rehabilitating militancy-hit areas.

Meanwhile, the MQM returned to the proceedings of the National Assembly after nearly two hours, only to participate in the budget debate, which, yet again, remained lackluster and fell on deaf ears in the treasury benches. Before walking off from the House, MQM deputy parliamentary leader Haider Abbas Rizvi criticised the government for turning a blind eye to the violence in the city which is his party’s political stronghold. He sought immediate government action to stop the violence.

Pakistan Peoples Party (Sherpao) leader Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao said civilians were paying the price for the war on terror, adding that drone attacks were claiming countless lives and damaging people’s property.

In the absence of a government minister, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member Zaid Hamid said the government had failed to meet the revenue collection target in the past four years causing an increase in unemployment and rise in inflation in the country.

He further said that the government had collected Rs52 billion by promulgating the ordinance which was laid in the house after 90 days in violation of the constitution.

He demanded that the government present before the house 10 ordinances promulgated in 2010.

More women participated in the debate with their critical appreciation of the budget. MQM member Shagufta Sadiq and PML-N’s Nuzhat Sadiq suggested the taxation regime be revised.

Dr Nelson Azeem of the PML-N spoke for what he called “discriminatory behaviour” against minorities.

He objected to the devolution of the minorities’ affairs ministry, saying no minorities’ member was allowed to participate in the constitutional amendments committee despite repeated requests.

“Educational institutions of the minorities that were nationalised 30 years ago should be returned to them,” Azeem demanded.

Meanwhile, a man was killed while two others, including a woman, were injured during a cross fire between MQM and ANP near the Old Sabzi Mandi within the jurisdiction of New Town police station.

According to police officials, the victims were inside Askari Park when stray bullets hit them during a clash between the two warring political parties. They said the victims were taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where 36-year-old Salman succumbed to his injuries during treatment, while the woman, Naseem, and another, Aziz, were admitted to a hospital.

During a recent wave of ethnic violence, unidentified armed men targeted four MQM men near Hassan Square. As a result, all four sustained bullet wounds and were taken to hospital. Inquiry officer Ikhlaq Ahmed told The Express Tribune that all four victims affiliated with the MQM Unit 68 were out of danger.

The incident triggered more tension in the locality. A heavy contingent of law enforcers were deployed at the scene. No case was registered till the filing of this report.

Later on Tuesday, a meeting was held at the governor house between leaders of the MQM and ANP.

(WITH ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FARAZ KHAN IN KARACHI)

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2011.