Fair warning? Opposition fears: 1971-like crisis resulting from Karachi operation

MPAs also urge accountability for funds utilised from last year's budget.


Our Correspondent June 17, 2015
Sindh Assembly post-budget Session. PHOTO: NNI

KARACHI: Law and order concerns took up most of the post-budget discussion in Sindh Assembly on Wednesday when the opposition expressed concerns about the ongoing Karachi operation, warning that it may result in an East-Pakistan-like situation.

"If the state operation against our workers is not stopped, the situation will spiral out of control," warned Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Heer Ismail Soho, whose husband was picked up by the law enforcement agencies and was released recently after 80 days in Rangers' custody. "Please stop turning this country into yet another East Pakistan."

In her emotional speech, Soho pointed out that dozens of innocent MQM workers have been arrested by law enforcers but have yet to be presented before the courts.

Another MQM lawmaker, Wasim Qureshi, asked the chief minister to take notice of these arrests. "Captain sahib, please take note of this situation, otherwise you and your ministers will also suffer the same predicament in the future," he said.

Accountability of funds

As the discussion turned towards the recent budget, the lawmakers demanded the evaluation and accountability of the funds utilised by the government from last year's budget. They stressed the need for a strong mechanism to monitor the utilisation of funds allocated in next year's budget.

Pakistan Muslim League-Functional's (PML-F) Mehtab Akbar Rashdi pointed out how the people of Sindh have no access to potable water even though the province contributes 72 per cent to the total revenue of Pakistan. "PPP has been in power for the last seven years but it has given nothing other than worse law and order and bad governance to the province," she said.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmaker Khurram Sher Zaman wanted to discuss the Rs230-billion black market in Karachi that is being used to fund terrorism in the province. "Rangers DG stated that political parties and their militant wings generate funds through extortion, land grabbing and smuggling of Iranian diesel," he pointed out, demanding the House debate this issue and expose the people involved in this.

'Pro-poor' budget

Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Dr Sikandar Shoro lauded his government's efforts on presenting a 'pro-poor' budget. "Opposition members have no other agenda other than criticising the government that is putting all efforts for the development of Sindh," he said. Shoro criticised the PML-F and PML-Nawaz for their silence over Sindh's rights. "The federal government has stopped releasing Sindh's funds and allocated meagre amounts in the public-sector development budget," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2015.

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