KARACHI:
What’s the use of giving police more money when they cannot stem lawlessness? The question once again ringed the Sindh Assembly session on Saturday, as lawmakers expressed dismay over the worsening law and order situation in Karachi, with some voices even calling for no increases in police’s budget, allowances or any other benefits.
“I suggest that the budget and other benefits of police be made conditional to their performance,” said Pakistan Muslim League-Functional’s Marvi Rashdi. She said that of the Rs39.3 billion allocated to the police, Rs1.5 billion alone has been set aside for the daily allowance and ration allowance of the police personnel. “People are being killed on the roads of Karachi in broad daylight, but the police are a silent spectator,” she lamented.
The outspoken MPA, while appreciating the government for allocating Rs13.69 billion for agriculture and relief packages worth Rs2 billion for growers who had lost their crops, questioned the performance of the education department. “With Rs111 billion allocated for education, I hope there will be no more ‘ghost’ schools in the province and the government brings about an educational revolution,” she said. Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Wasim Hussain said that after Karachi the security situation in Hyderabad is also deteriorating with targeted killings and extortion becoming the order of the day. Relentless power outages and water shortages have made the lives of people miserable, he added. “I will consider myself a ‘naakam’ (unsuccessful) MPA,” admitted Hussain.
‘Massive embezzlements’
No guesses for why Sindh Revenue Minister Jam Mahtab Dahar took so long to realise the situation, but the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) member burst open against the alleged corruption in the education department in the Saturday’s session.
“I have remained silent for the past four years, but it is high time to inform this assembly that even the watchmen and peons are not appointed on merit [in the department],” decried Dahar, who shares his assembly seat with Pir Mazharul Haq, the education minister.
During the budget session, Dahar diverted the house’s attention towards the misappropriation of millions of rupees in the funds of schools management committee in his district – Ghotki. “I have lodged many complaints with the education minister, but all in vain,” he said. “The most corrupt officials are being appointed in our districts.”
Not ‘enough’ funds
Every minister tried to emphasise that their department is the most important and government should give them more incentives.
MQM’s Sindh Religious Affairs Minister Abdul Haseeb Khan said his ministry can play a role against extremist activities and therefore needs more funds to promote harmony.
Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, the provincial sports minister, thought that the sports budget – 0.2 per cent of the total outlay – was “unfortunate”. “Like Europe, sports activities in the province can promote peace and tolerance,” he said.
Archives minister Rafique Engineer believed that his department could preserve all kinds of historical records, but its meagre budget was not enough.
Rehabilitation minister Haji Muzafffar Shajra complained that the government had initiated some drinking water schemes in his constituency, but the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board was not providing the water connections.
Baloch killings in Karachi
In the session, Engineer also decried that criminals are targeting the Baloch in Lyari and other Baloch-dominated areas in Karachi. “They kill innocent Baloch after identification. Where should we go in this situation,” he said. “Criminals have started threatening employers to dismiss their Baloch employees.”
Published In The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2012.
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