Karachi violence: Briefing ruptures coalition

As Lyari men set free and cases withdrawn, MQM walks out of Sindh Assembly .


Hafeez Tunio February 14, 2013
Dr Sagheer Ahmed says, "We can no more sit in the house. Such decisions have compelled us to reconsider our decision to sit on the treasury benches.” PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: An in-camera briefing at the Sindh Assembly on Thursday scared away the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, when the party came to know that the government has withdrawn all cases against alleged gangsters of Lyari.

MQM’s legislators walked out alleging that the Peoples Party government was patronizing criminals in Karachi. They also threatened to quit the coalition.

The lawmakers belonging to PPP and MQM grilled provincial police chief Fayyaz Leghari as he defended his department’s performance, holding terrorists, militant groups, the land mafia and ethnic groups responsible.

The in-camera session was summoned after a resolution  adopted on February 11 asking police officials to explain Karachi’s violence. Additional IG Iqbal Mehmood and Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Waseem Ahmad, were also called.

As the media was not allowed to cover the proceedings, sources privy to the briefing told The Express Tribune later that it took an ugly turn during the question-answer session when MQM MPA Dr Sagheer Ahmed entered the house.

“We are at the moment getting a briefing on the law-and-order situation, but we want to know why the law department has [sent a request] to withdraw the cases against the Peoples Amn Committee,” he said. “They are terrorists involved in gang warfare, kidnapping for ransom, extortion and killings in the city.” He said that these were the same people who have slaughtered many workers of the MQM and other innocent people in Karachi, adding that when government functionaries and the ruling party were patronizing criminals, this in-camera briefing was of no use.

He said that Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro had failed to persuade why he has decided to withdraw the cases.



MQM legislators walked out with Dr Sagheer saying: “We can no more sit in the house. Such decisions have compelled us to reconsider our decision to sit on the treasury benches.”

Later, speaking to the media, Dr Sagheer said that this decision by the government “compels us to revise our relationship with the PPP. Now there is the question whether we should continue our alliance with the government or not.” He, however, added that a final decision would be taken by the party’s Rabita Committee.

Thursday’s session started with the police presentation. But earlier, PPP MPA Akhtar Jadoon levelled allegations against the police and said that they were doing “nothing except taking bribes and extortion”. He said that the police was totally politicized and nothing good would come of it unless competent officials were appointed on merit.

Insiders said that Jadoon’s remarks created an uproar in the house. But the PPP minister continued to say, “I want to seek the IGP’s response on it.” He then walked out.

They said that as soon as IGP Leghari finished his briefing, the MQM’s parliamentary leader, Syed Sardar Ahmed, stood up. “You have briefed on everything, but have not mentioned the killing of our MPA, Manzar Imam. We want to know what progress you have made to arrest his killers.”

The IGP tendering his apology said, “Yes, I forgot about this high-profile murder.”

The opposition members were also not happy with the presentation. “There was nothing new in it,” said Marvi Rashdi of the PML-F. “The facts and figures have already been published in the media.” She said that many questions were asked, but IGP gave politically correct answers to them.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2013.

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