Keep it pleasant: PPP, MQM play the friendly foes

MQM's opposition leader backs down after PPP's Memon threatens to broach topic of RAW


Our Correspondent May 19, 2015
Opposition leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan speaks at the Sindh Assembly session on Friday, May 15, 2015. PHOTO: RASHID AJMERI/EXPRESS

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly was in uproar again on Tuesday. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmakers engaged in a war of words yet again.

Earlier, the PPP had defended its part-rival, part-ally, the MQM, over its chief's remarks against the Pakistan Army by not allowing the Pakistan Muslim League — Functional and Pakistan Muslim League — Nawaz lawmakers to move a resolution against Altaf Hussain. During Tuesday's session, however, the attitude of the ruling party's lawmakers was strikingly different. They openly criticised the MQM for its leader's remarks.

The uproar reached its climax when the finance minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, winding up the budget speech, said, "Some elements initially create trouble in this city and then invite RAW to come and destabilise this country."

The MQM members took the matter lightly at first. A few minutes later, however, MQM MPA Zafar Kamali stood up and requested the speaker to expunge the words from the proceedings. "Why have you used the word RAW and linked it with our party?" he questioned, pointing towards Murad Ali Shah.

Syed Sardar Ahmed, the party's parliamentary leader, tried to calm down his colleagues. "What the finance minister is saying is not true. Altaf bhai has not made any such demand. There is no need to debate on this issue," he said, requesting them to focus on the budget instead.

The finance minister said the opposition leader had also criticised the PPP government and he had only responded to it. Several MQM MPAs continued their protest, demanding to expunge the finance minister's remarks.

Leader of the opposition Khawaja Izharul Hassan, who was in the lobby at the time, suddenly appeared in the hall. "We have been coalition partners for over four times. Please don't drag this matter into the proceedings."

Earlier in the day, the opposition leader had criticised the chief minister for failing to deliver and said, "There should be a debate on the corps commander's statement in which he has exposed the administrative failure of the Sindh government."

Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon had threatened him in response. "We have no issue. Please start a debate on it. We will also take up the RAW issue," he warned. "We will debate on how you are inviting the RAW and inciting violence in the city. There should be a debate on how many innocent people have been killed by target killers since 2008 and who is involved."

Nisar Khuhro responds

During the session, education minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro expressed displeasure over the remarks of PML-F MPA Nusrat Seher Abbasi who had leaked his 'mujra' video in Monday's session.

"A PPP MNA had invited me to a wedding party at the Beach Luxury Hotel," he said. "When I reached the venue, Sindhi singer Sanam Marvi was performing. The host took me to the stage and suddenly a lady appeared and the mujra started," he narrated.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2015.

COMMENTS (1)

Khan | 8 years ago | Reply "The host took me to the stage and suddenly a lady appeared and the mujra started" How innocent he is!!
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