MPAs put their foot down against ‘extrajudicial’ killings of political workers

MQM lawmakers staged a token walkout against the killings of their workers.

KARACHI:

Members of the Sindh Assembly put their foot down on Friday against the extrajudicial killings of political workers and the increasing trend of kidnapping for ransom cases in the province. 

Soon after the session started with speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in the chair, lawmakers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) staged a token walkout against the killings of their workers while legislators of the Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F) drew the attention of the house towards the deteriorating law and order situation in rural Sindh.

“Some masked men in plainclothes conduct frequent raids at our workers’ houses. They come in vehicles bearing no number plates,” claimed opposition leader Faisal Subzwari. “On the second day of the arrest, we receive the bodies of our workers with torture marks. We want to know who kidnaps our people. Do they belong to the law-enforcement agencies or are they criminals?” he asked, referring to the recent murder of MQM worker Mohammad Suleman, whose body was found in Landhi.



“If anyone is found to be involved in suspicious activities, they should be presented before the court of law rather than being killed,” he insisted. Later, the MQM members staged a walkout.

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon assured the MQM workers that they would start an impartial inquiry into the murders of their workers. He added that policemen were also being killed in Karachi in retaliation to the ongoing operation against criminals. “Every month 20 to 30 policemen are killed by criminals as revenge against Karachi operation,” he added. “These suspects had also killed journalist Wali Babar, the police officers and other witnesses in his case. We are investigating who is killing the police officers in Karachi,” he said.

PML-F MPA Shaharyar Mahar drew the speaker’s attention towards kidnapping incidents in rural Sindh. “More than 12 people have been kidnapped in the Shikarpur district only, which has now become a safe haven for the criminals. Similar incidents are happening in Khairpur Mirs, which is hometown of the chief minister. When will the government establish its writ?” he asked.

Sindh Emergency procurement bill

The Sindh assembly passed a unanimous law authorising the provincial government to procure bulletproof jackets and weapons and other necessary gears for the law enforcers on an urgent basis without the approval of Sindh Public Procurement Regulatory Authority.

Moving the bill, Sindh Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro said that the police and law-enforcement agencies have rendered great scarifies in defending the lives of citizens, therefore it was necessary to make emergency procurement laws. “Normally it takes months to procure bulletproof jackets, weapons and other necessary gears for the law enforcers. We are making this law just for a year so that purchases can be made as soon as possible,” he said.

The provincial assembly also passed a supplementary bill amid protests by MQM lawmakers. The Sindh Building Control Amendment Bill 2014 was moved to establish a centralised master plan department in the province. The minister for parliamentary affairs said, “The law is in the interest of the citizens but it is now being violated,” he said.

Subzwari called it a violation of Article-140 A, saying that under this law the authority of building control is being shifted from local government to the provincial government. “The government must stop it,” he said.

Later, the speaker adjourned the session to meet again on Monday.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2014.