Discussing law and order: On MQM’s call, Sindh Assembly session to be held on Monday

Earlier, the acting speaker had rejected the party’s requisition because of ‘fake signatures’.

KARACHI:

With no more debate on the signatures of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s MPAs, the acting speaker Sindh Assembly Shehla Raza has accepted the party’s requisition to call a Sindh Assembly session to discuss the law and order in Karachi.

The session will be held on September 9 and will be the first one in the last five years to be called by the opposition - the government has always summoned the session through Sindh governor. “We have submitted the application containing the signatures of 43 MPAs of our party and requested to discuss law and order. I hope the government will give proper time and chance to every member to speak on this sensitive issue,” said Syed Sardar Ahmed, MQM’s parliamentary leader in the provincial assembly. “The assembly is the highest forum - these elected representatives can give valuable suggestions to the government to deal with the worsening situation in Karachi and other districts of the province. Though it is up to the speaker to allot time to the members, we will request that all are allowed to share their input on this sensitive issue.”

Talking to The Express Tribune, Sindh Assembly Secretary said that the law and order situation was on the agenda and other businesses could also be included with permission of the speaker.

Earlier, MQM MPAs had submitted their requisition on August 20, but the speaker dismissed it on the grounds of a few alleged fake signatures of the party’s lawmakers on the application. Later, the acting speaker verified and accepted the application and sent the same to the assembly secretariat.

Legislation

Sources in the government said that the ruling party with consultation of other parties would also try to make a law pertaining to extortion and witness protection. The government will attempt to declare extortion, targeted killing and kidnapping for ransom as non-bail offences.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2013.