Uproar in Sindh Assembly as MQM protests worker's killing

MQM lawmakers hold posters with pictures of slain party activist and raise slogans in his favour

KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) workers protested in the Sindh Assembly on Monday against what they called the ‘extra judicial killing’ of party worker Muhammad Hashim.

During the session, MQM lawmakers held photographs of the deceased worker and chanted slogans after their requests, seeking time to brief the house about the killing of Hashim, were turned down. Following the uproar, Sindh Assembly speaker Agha Siraj Durrani adjourned the session for 10 minutes.

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The government, however, refused to listen to the MQM leaders and maintained that the incident is being probed. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah was attending the assembly session at the time when MQM lawmakers started their protest.

Further, ministers of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) who were also attending the session told The Express Tribune that the MQM wanted to hijack the session. “All treasury members have made a human chain around the chief minister in order to defend him from any untoward incident,” the PPP ministers said.

Later, the speaker had to adjourn the assembly session until the next day after MQM MPA Heer Soho began reading out a resolution against PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, MQM lawmakers chanted “Go Zardari go”.

The speaker had allowed the MQM MPA to read out an adjournment motion against the decision of a Jirga regarding the forceful marriage of a minor girl in Ghotki district; however, she took the opportunity to read out a resolution against the former president.

Meanwhile, MQM lawmakers, while addressing the media, demanded that an FIR be registered against the Sindh chief minister over the murder of a party activist, saying the provincial government was not ready to pay any heed to their demands.

Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, however, rejected the demands of the MQM, saying the party was trying to create uproar and disturb the proceedings of the House.

Read: Extra-judicial killing: MQM withdraws strike call

Earlier today, the MQM took back its call for a shutter down strike across Sindh, which had been announced by the party after Hashim's body was found. The MQM withdrew its strike call after assurance from Director-General Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar that the deceased worker’s killers will be brought to justice.

Hashim, according to the party, was arrested and taken to an unknown location while he was on his way home from MQM headquarters, Nine Zero, on May 6.