Monday’s session was held to pay tribute to Manzar Imam.
KARACHI: The Sindh government’s five-year performance came under fire during the assembly session on Monday as most lawmakers demanded a review of the law and order policy.
Criticising the role of the police and Rangers, they demanded the government set new priorities to control target killings in Karachi. “Nearly 10 to 15 people fall prey to targeted killings in the city,” pointed out Pakistan Muslim League-Functional’s Rana Abdul Sattar. “Nothing will come out of only Fatehas and tributes.”
Sattar suggested that every MPA should bring 500 residents from their constituencies since “we only need 30,000 people to control the [law and order] situation.”
Monday’s session started one hour and 40 minutes behind scheduled and was adjourned without taking any agenda in honour of the deceased Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Manzar Imam, who was targeted last month. Several frustrated legislators wanted to speak more on the Karachi situation, but acting speaker Shehla Raza only allowed Fatehas. “I realise the intensity of your feelings, but according to assembly traditions, we do not initiate debate in the session following the demise of any member of the house,” she explained.
Despite her remarks, legislators tried to make their point. MQM’s Muhammad Mazhar Ameer Khan pointed out that there is a severe shortage of policemen in Orangi Town and Pirabad. Out of 149 sanctioned posts, only 47 personnel have been deputed in Pirabad, he said.
Throughout the session, chief minister Qaim Ali Shah kept nodding his head and taking notes from the MPAs’ speeches. Local government minister Agha Siraj Durrani told the media later that they can control the law and order situation, but suicide attacks are out of their control.
Another MQM MPA Abdul Haseeb Khan disclosed that Manzar Imam was on the hit list of the terrorists.
The joint interrogation teams of the police and intelligence agencies have also reported that there were serious threats to Manzar Imam, he added.
“Waseem Baroodi of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi had confessed during the interrogation that they were planning to kill Manzar Iman.”
Even the opposition members agreed. PML-F’s Nusrat Saher Abbasi said that nearly 6,000 people have been killed in Karachi during the present government’s tenure.
“People are being killed in front of the police and Rangers, who are silent spectators. We need concrete efforts instead of paying tributes to our people.”
Several legislators also paid tribute to renowned Sindhi writer Sirajul Haque Memon. Culture minister Sassui Palijo wanted to move a resolution to pay tribute to Memon but the acting speaker stopped her. “Your resolution will be against the traditions of this house. The house is only meant to offer Fateha and we can not take up further agenda,” she said.
Oath taking ceremony
During the session, the newly elected Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Syed Sarfaraz Shah took oath as a new member of the Sindh Assembly.
He has recently contested and won the by-polls from PS-21, Naushehro Feroze district. The session was later adjourned to Wednesday.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2013.
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