ANP submits adjournment motion against target killings

ANP senators submit adjournment motion saying the rejection of its demand to deploy the army resulted in the killings.

ISLAMABAD:
Awami National Party (ANP) senators have submitted an adjournment motion in the Senate against target killings in Karachi.

The motion is intended to draw the attention of the House to the issue of target killings, in regard to which a motion or a resolution with proper notice will be too late.

Senators Afrasyab Khatak, Haji Aseel and Zahid Khan submitted the motion in the Senate Secretariat. The motion states that the government did not accept the ANP's demand to deploy the army in the city during PS-94 by-elections to ensure security. They said the rejection of this demand led to the loss of many innocent lives in just one day.

ANP is demanding a debate on the issue in the Upper House.


At least 41 people were killed in Karachi as violence continued for a second day on Sunday in different parts of the city as the by-election were held in Orangi Town.

Earlier on Sunday, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) shook the struggling PPP-led government as reports surfaced that the party was contemplating pulling out of the Sindh coalition government in protest against the ongoing spate of targeted killings in Karachi. President Asif Zardari however, rejected the resignation of Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat ul Ebad.

The MQM has been repeatedly criticising the government for failing to take action regarding the ongoing target killings in the city. Last week, MQM leader Dr Farooq Sattar that “criminals backed by political forces ruling in Sindh” are behind the latest spate of target killings of its leaders and workers in Karachi.

The ANP had boycotted the by-elections because of lack of security. After the death of its party workers in Sunday's violence, a bitter Shahi Syed, ANP Sindh Chief had said that even though they had appealed for a delay, they were ignored as “usual”. But when the government had postponed the elections on Sept 22, the ANP had not been asked.

“October 17 is one of the blackest days in the history of Pakistan,” he said at a press conference at Mardan House on Sunday. “[Even] the legendary Hakeem Said was martyred [on this day],” Syed said.
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