Assembly condemns torture of MMA MPA

Abdul Rashid says manhandled by goons of SMBBMC Lyari principal

KARACHI:

The Sindh Assembly members on Monday got worried when Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) MPA Syed Abdul Rashid entered the hall with torn clothes claiming that he was tortured by the employees of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical College (SMBBMC), Lyari, where he had gone to inquire about alleged embezzlement of funds by the college principal.

"I am elected MPA of the area and the employees of the medical and nursing college put me in illegal confinement for two hours. They tortured me and threatened me with dire consequences," he said adding that the incident took place when the protest by the students was going on against the principal of the medical college.

"I have already raised the issue in the house about Rs280 million bungled by the hospital administration and medical college. The hospital administration has purchased one bed for patients at Rs1.2 million," he said adding that he came under attack on the order of Medical College Principal Anjum Rehman and Nursing College Principal (Male) who have looted the public resources while sitting illegally on their positions. "Their hired criminals attacked me," he said.

The speaker Agha Siraj Durrani and most of the MPAs sitting in the house condemned the torture of the MPA and demanded action against the people involved in the incident.

Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho said that she had removed Lyari Medical College Principal Anjum Rehman and male nursing principal Shabana in the wake of inquiry reports against them, but they have obtained the stay orders from the court. "We will now take action against them," the health minister said.

Minister for parliamentary affairs, Mukesh Chawla suggested the MMA MPA, who originally belongs to Jamaat-e-Islami, to register the FIR against the people involved in the incident. "We condemn the incident. You are a member of this house. We'll extend all possible help to you in the case," Chawla said.

Syed Abdul Rashid responding to the parliamentary minister said that police were not cooperating with him, so he wants to move a privilege motion in the house. "I am a member of this house. This attack is on the attack of assembly. Please allow me to move a privilege motion," he said and moved a privilege motion to inquire into the matter with action against the people involved in the incident.

Chawla was of the view that the matter would be referred to a five-member special committee headed by Ghulam Qadir Chandio, and action would be taken as per its recommendations.

Earlier, as the session started, there was thin attendance in the house. The PTI MPA Firdous Shamim Naqvi pointed out the quorum and said, "The quorum is not complete."

Speaker Durrani said that members were not interested in the session and always remained absent. "It looks like they will not contest the upcoming elections," he said.

During the session, the special assistant to chief minister on zakat and ushr Fayyaz Butt came under fire when he could not give satisfactory answers to MPAs during the question-and-answer session.

However, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon informed the house that People Bus Service will begin operation in all districts of Sindh in coming days which will resolve the transport issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2022.