Sindh Assembly session: Of token walkouts, opposition leaders, sufism, missing journalists
MQM continues to struggle towards opposition benches, names Raza Haroon as opposition leader.
KARACHI:
The Sindh Assembly session opened on Friday with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) walking out in a gesture of disapproval against the alleged targeted killing of its workers.
However, walking out once did not quell their anger and halfway through the MQM MPAs upped and left once more - this time against the revival of the commissionerate system and local government ordinance 1979.
As Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro kicked the session off, MQM members stood up wanting to discuss the recent clashes between two groups in Malir. When the speaker asked them to allow him to complete the agenda, they refused to let up on their demand and went on to accuse the government of patronising terrorists.
"We cannot wait for the agenda to be completed. This is a sensitive issue as the state machinery is being used against us," said MQM MPA and former environment minister Shaikh Muhammad Afzal.
He said that members of Lyari gangs and the land and drug mafias were attacking their workers and occupying areas in Malir, Khokhrapar and Memon Goth. "We approached the police but they refused to go to the area, claiming that they don't have permission to take action."
However, the new home minister, Manzoor Wassan, dismissed his claims. "There is a war going on between two rival groups," he said. "I have directed the DG Rangers to personally visit the spot and control the situation."
Wassan told the assembly that 950 people had been killed since January out of which 189 were targeted killing cases. "From July 5 to 9, around 77 people have been killed," he said and asked all political parties to cooperate in maintaining the city's law and order situation.
Faisal Subzwari, the MQM deputy parliamentary leader, was less optimistic. Some people want to sabotage all possible "political arrangements" between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and MQM, he observed darkly. He made a dramatic exit with the rest of his party's lawmakers after a speech accusing unidentified people of political sabotage and deliberately killing MQM workers.
Uproar on legislation
Shortly after the MQM MPAs returned from the first token walkout, the speaker tried to read the governor's assent message on the three recently passed bills. Once again the MQM legislators jumped to their feet in protest. The PPP MPAs responded in similar fashion thumping their desks in support of the bills - Police Act 1861, Local Government Ordinance 1979 and Commissionerate system. The MQM termed it a "black law" and said that the legislation was against "democratic values", "anti law" and "anti people". The speaker tried in vain to pacify the frenzied assembly members but could not stop the MQM leaders from leaving for the second time.
Opposition leader nominated
The MQM nominated Raza Haroon as leader of the Sindh Assembly opposition on Friday.
However, the speaker said that they could not allot opposition seats to Haroon or anyone else until the government decides on the MQM minister’s resignations.
Sardar Ahmed, the party's parliamentary, told the media that the MQM would not be a 'friendly opposition'. The session began at around 11 am and the new coalition members - Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and Functional (PML-Q and PML-F) were asked to sit on the treasury benches.
After the session, Haroon told the media that some ministers were encouraging terrorists to kill MQM workers. When asked to elaborate, he was dismissive. "Everyone knows (who they are). These ministers proudly claim to have relations with criminals like their family members." He accused the government of playing "mediator" between city gangs.
Missing journalist
Journalists had their say during the session too. They demanded the recovery of their colleague Malik Mumtaz, a TV reporter who went missing from Karachi. Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon went to the press gallery and assured the journalists that he would talk to the home minister about the matter.
Sufism and Modern Science University at Bhit Shah
On a positive note, a bill to establish the University of Sufism and Modern Science at Bhit Shah was unanimously passed as the assembly with all the parties finally agreed on something. Law Minister Ayaz Soomro moved for the bill.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2011.
The Sindh Assembly session opened on Friday with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) walking out in a gesture of disapproval against the alleged targeted killing of its workers.
However, walking out once did not quell their anger and halfway through the MQM MPAs upped and left once more - this time against the revival of the commissionerate system and local government ordinance 1979.
As Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro kicked the session off, MQM members stood up wanting to discuss the recent clashes between two groups in Malir. When the speaker asked them to allow him to complete the agenda, they refused to let up on their demand and went on to accuse the government of patronising terrorists.
"We cannot wait for the agenda to be completed. This is a sensitive issue as the state machinery is being used against us," said MQM MPA and former environment minister Shaikh Muhammad Afzal.
He said that members of Lyari gangs and the land and drug mafias were attacking their workers and occupying areas in Malir, Khokhrapar and Memon Goth. "We approached the police but they refused to go to the area, claiming that they don't have permission to take action."
However, the new home minister, Manzoor Wassan, dismissed his claims. "There is a war going on between two rival groups," he said. "I have directed the DG Rangers to personally visit the spot and control the situation."
Wassan told the assembly that 950 people had been killed since January out of which 189 were targeted killing cases. "From July 5 to 9, around 77 people have been killed," he said and asked all political parties to cooperate in maintaining the city's law and order situation.
Faisal Subzwari, the MQM deputy parliamentary leader, was less optimistic. Some people want to sabotage all possible "political arrangements" between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and MQM, he observed darkly. He made a dramatic exit with the rest of his party's lawmakers after a speech accusing unidentified people of political sabotage and deliberately killing MQM workers.
Uproar on legislation
Shortly after the MQM MPAs returned from the first token walkout, the speaker tried to read the governor's assent message on the three recently passed bills. Once again the MQM legislators jumped to their feet in protest. The PPP MPAs responded in similar fashion thumping their desks in support of the bills - Police Act 1861, Local Government Ordinance 1979 and Commissionerate system. The MQM termed it a "black law" and said that the legislation was against "democratic values", "anti law" and "anti people". The speaker tried in vain to pacify the frenzied assembly members but could not stop the MQM leaders from leaving for the second time.
Opposition leader nominated
The MQM nominated Raza Haroon as leader of the Sindh Assembly opposition on Friday.
However, the speaker said that they could not allot opposition seats to Haroon or anyone else until the government decides on the MQM minister’s resignations.
Sardar Ahmed, the party's parliamentary, told the media that the MQM would not be a 'friendly opposition'. The session began at around 11 am and the new coalition members - Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and Functional (PML-Q and PML-F) were asked to sit on the treasury benches.
After the session, Haroon told the media that some ministers were encouraging terrorists to kill MQM workers. When asked to elaborate, he was dismissive. "Everyone knows (who they are). These ministers proudly claim to have relations with criminals like their family members." He accused the government of playing "mediator" between city gangs.
Missing journalist
Journalists had their say during the session too. They demanded the recovery of their colleague Malik Mumtaz, a TV reporter who went missing from Karachi. Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon went to the press gallery and assured the journalists that he would talk to the home minister about the matter.
Sufism and Modern Science University at Bhit Shah
On a positive note, a bill to establish the University of Sufism and Modern Science at Bhit Shah was unanimously passed as the assembly with all the parties finally agreed on something. Law Minister Ayaz Soomro moved for the bill.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2011.