MQM legislators protest as motion against extra-judicial killings of workers is dismissed

In response to commotion in the Sindh Assembly, Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza adjourns session until Friday.

KARACHI: The Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) legislators in the Sindh Assembly chanted slogans and threw ripped copies of their agendas in the air after their motion was overruled on Tuesday. 

The party had tabled a motion in protest of what they claim are extra-judicial executions and enforced disappearances of their party workers.

After the motion was dismissed on the basis of being invalid, the legislators protested against the proceedings, not allowing the assembly session to proceed further.

Unable to follow through with the proceedings in the midst of the commotion, Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza adjourned the session until Friday.


Assembly proceedings

MQM representative Mohammad Hussain tabled a motion in which he raised concerns that MQM workers were being targeted, detained and executed by plain-clothed policemen.

Opposition leader Faisal Subzwari alleged that five MQM workers were currently detained by the government, which had promised to give details regarding their whereabouts, but after 24 hours, still had not.

“Karachi is not Fata,” he said. “If our workers are accused of anything, they should be presented in court.”

Information Minister Sharjeel Memon defended the law-enforcement agencies, saying that the police and Rangers have been sacrificing their lives fighting terrorism. Similar praise should go to Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, said Memon.

“The PPP [Pakistan People’s Party] does not support extra-judicial detention,” he said, and alleged that the five missing MQM men were not detained by the Rangers or the police. He informed the assembly that an investigative committee has been formed to find out what happened to the missing men, and that the committee would inform the Assembly of their findings.

Provincial Law Minister Sikander Mandhro protested against the motion, saying that it was against the Code of Conduct, which lead to the pandemonium.