MQM, Q govt released 37 terrorists


KARACHI - The Sindh Assembly on Thursday witnessed uproar during discussion on budget as MQM lawmakers staged a token walkout of the House over not allowing their senior member to address further while PPP and PML-N members trade allegations and exchange harsh words against each other.PML-N’s Aijaz Shah Shirazi from Thatta alleged that after facing defeat in elections, the PPP government started political victimisation and false cases have been lodged against their 250 supporters in the district.Roaring at the PPP government, PML-N MPA said that he was ready for re-election on his seat and confidently announced his win despite the PPP in the government. His remark invited same response from the treasury benches as information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon stood on his seat and challenged the PML-N MPA that you have no courage to contest elections. Both sides traded harsh words and allegations against each other.While leveling allegations, the body language of both sides witnessed their threatening mood against each other. However, the Speaker continued order in the House but his all instructions went in futile for awhile. Later, MPAs of both sides calmed down the two MPAs.Meanwhile, the House also witnessed uproar during discussion on the budget when Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza politely asking MQM’s Dr Sagheer Ahmed to conclude his speech, who was addressing for more than an hour. When former health minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed did not sit on the instruction of the chair, the Deputy Speaker went into anger. Opposition leader Faisal Sabzwari also stood on his seat and confronted with the chair, insisting that you (chair) can’t dictate us. In support of their opposition leader, other MPAs of MQM also stood on their feet.Shehla directed the opposition leader that she is chairing the sitting as she has powers to order any member, who violate the rules.Later, the MQM MPAs led by opposition leader Faisal Sabzwari staged token walkout of the House. Senior Minister for education Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, law minister and others went to the MQM members and bring them back in the House within minutes after their protest.Khuhro in his budget speech came down hard against the PML-N government for not stopping the water into CJ and TP canals in Punjab, which floods canals and cannot be opened without prior permission by the Sindh government.He also traced the history and held the PML-N responsible for the electricity crisis, which severed due to abandoning of Keti Bandar power project and Thar coal during 90’s.He said that quality of education was worse in Sindh, inviting all the MPAs to come forward and identify the closed schools in their areas so these could be opened on priority basis.Khuhro said that out of 42,000 primary schools, at least 27,000 schools were without electricity facility while 15,000 schools have not potable water facility for the students.He added that Sindh government has allocated additional Rs4 billion for the development of infrastructure city headquarter of all the districts of the province.Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said problem of the terrorism and law and order was not arise in PPP government as it started with the policy of General Zia in Karachi.He further said that at least 37 terrorists and criminals were released before 2007 by then Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim and then advisor on home from MQM on parole. Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah after assuming the power cancelled all parole orders. He informed the House that all the released terrorists did not return to jail and may be they fled from the country.Without naming any political party, Sindh Information Minister said that everyone know that who collect extortion from the traders since long in Karachi, adding that even chits to collect the Fitrana of Ramazan are being given to the non-Muslims in the City.Referring to the MQM, Sindh Information Minister further said that if our friends give the lists of the arrested workers and they were not involved in crime, the government will release them immediately.Memon further said Sindh government was not sitting idle as police arrested terrorists and criminals who were involved in killing 100 people in the City.He said that Sindh government arrested the criminals but courts released them. He said that May 12 case, in which more than 40 people were killed, unfortunately only three hearings of this important case was held so far. He further said that courts always take up the cases against the PPP leadership but implementation on the Asghar Khan case was still pending. MQM’s Sardar Ahmed in his speech emphasised on involving the MPAs in budget-making process, which can only be prove beneficial for the people.He advised the government to form house committee, which come up with suggestions to improve utilisation of budget. He also advised the abolishing of additional posts of AIGs and ADIGs in the Sindh Police, and SHOs and SSPs be empowered with facility and powers to control the law and order, besides a provincial anti-terrorism policy be evolved on permanent basis.Sindh Law Minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro said that government would bring the budget after every three months in the House to discuss and make it more accountable, besides pre-budget sessions of the Sindh Assembly would be summoned for next budgets.PML-N’s Irfanullah Marwat demanded the government to expose the arrested target killers. He said that out-of-turn promotions’ policy of PPP government had destroyed the services structure and governance in the province. PML-F’s Imtiaz Shaikh said that PPP government was not implementing the Supreme Court’s verdict against these promotions.PPP’s Sanya Naz Baloch, who was elected from Lyari, said that whole city was under gang war and only Lyari was being blamed by anti-PPP elements in the City. She said that leaders living in London had no interest with the problems facing the poor people of Sindh.

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