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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

‘Fireworks’ in Lower House over Karachi army demand

* PPP terms MQM’s demand a conspiracy, slap on the face of democracy
* PTI wants to determine reasons for situation arriving to such a point

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Tuesday blew hot and cold in the National Assembly (NA) over the demand of the latter to hand over Karachi to army with opposition leader Khursheed Shah terming it "a slap on the face of democracy".
On a private member day in the session, the atmosphere of the House heated up when MQM Parliamentary Leader Dr Farooq Sattar said that the army should be called in to control the law and order situation in Karachi, which he believed has turned from bad to worst in the recent days.
After speaking extensively on the issue, the MQM lawmaker walked out from the session along with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), though the later maintained that the demand appeared "undemocratic".
"It should be, however, seen as why the situation arrived at a point when MQM has to make this demand," PTI Deputy Parliamentary Leader Shah Mahmood Querashi said.
The scathing criticism came from the opposition leader when he immediately took the floor and burst out on the demand of the MQM.
"It is a grave undemocratic act of MQM to make such demand and a big political blunder," an otherwise calm Shah lashed at MQM while speaking about the demand.
Shah said that the MQM's demand could be part of a conspiracy, adding that this action would be a slap on the face of democracy and added that MQM usually makes big demands and abruptly denies their own statements by the evening.
Shah also called the demand "uncalled for" and said that if it is based in insecurity then why the same should not be done in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where law and order situation is also precarious.
Earlier, Dr Farooq Sattar, speaking on a point of order, said that situation in Karachi is deliberately being worsened and city is being handed over to the criminals, militants and extremists.
He said that innocent people, political workers and above all the people from Karachi and Memon community are being killed and city administration and provincial government are not seen anywhere to arrest the fast deteriorating situation.
Calling for handing over Karachi to the army, Sattar said that this act might look "undemocratic however there is nothing dearer than the stability of the country, which is at stake due to Karachi situation".

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

 

 

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