MPAs criticise own govt for hiring ‘criminals’ as policemen

Murad Ali Shah delivers fiery speech as his colleagues praise ‘exceptional’ budget.

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) lawmakers criticised their own government for failing to control the law and order situation and allowing ‘criminals’ to be hired in the police department.

During the Sindh Assembly session on Tuesday afternoon - that started with Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in the chair - PPP senior lawmaker Murad Ali Shah delivered a bold speech on the worsening law and order situation in the province. His speech came at a time when the rest of his party’s lawmakers were busy giving speeches appreciating their leadership and the chief minister on presenting an ‘exceptional’ budget.



“There was a time when the police used to be appointed on merit by conducting proper interviews,” he said. “But now, criminals and even terrorists are being appointed in the police. In this situation, how can one assume that things will change?” Shah pointed out that people involved in criminal cases are not even concerned about government salaries and are willing to work without a pay. “They know how to earn money through other means.”

According to Shah, these black sheep have defamed the government which is busy appointing criminals instead of maintaining criminal records in the department. “This does not mean there is a shortage of competent people in Sindh,” he clarified. “Competent police officers are present in Sindh but they are not given a free hand to work.”

Shah also expressed his concern over the weakening education system in the province and said that incompetent teaching staff has caused great havoc to the education sector. “We should form a selection board comprising different stakeholders to appoint teachers following proper interviews,” he suggested.

His views were shared by Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) MPA Jamal Ahmed, who went on to say that the police were involved in extrajudicial killings and torture. “Please do not show us that you have allocated Rs48 billion for law and order,” he said. “Show us progress and what you have achieved.”

Punjab industrial waste

During his budget speech, PPP MPA Ali Nawaz Khan Mahar raised the issue of industrial waste from the Punjab being disposed of in Ghotki district. A large area of agricultural land has been devastated because of this poisonous water, he said. “We request the authorities to dispose of the waste through proper drainage so it does not affect our people and their agriculture land,” he requested.

Mahar was of the view that many large companies have been operating in his constituency, which falls in Ghotki district, but the local residents are deprived of jobs. He also pointed out that the largest gas reservoirs are found in Qadirpur Gas fields but a majority of villages are still lacking this basic facility.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Samar Ali Khan pointed out that billions of rupees are allocated in the budget but the government has failed to provide ventilators at public sector hospitals, especially Jinnah hospital. Pakistan is one of largest zakat collecting countries but people avoid paying taxes, he said, adding that Karachi needs a mass transit system to get rid of traffic congestion.  Defending the Sindh government, PPP’s Shehla Raza said that 80 per cent resources come from the federal government and Sindh only generates 20 per cent of the income. The situation has become worse after the federal government failed to release proper funds, she said.

The members of the assembly also prayed for a healthy recovery of renowned philanthropist, Abdul Sattar Edhi and South African politician and revolutionary, Nelson Mandela.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2013.