News
Friday, January 06, 2012
MQM bill sparks clash in KP Assembly* PML-N MPA says bill is aimed at restarting clashes in Karachi
Staff Report
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly witnessed a war of words on Thursday after the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) welcomed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM’s) bill in the National Assembly for the creation of Hazara province.
“We welcome the MQM bill in parliament,” PML-Q MPA Qalandar Lodhi said after taking the floor, moments after the session began.
“We are thankful to the MQM for raising voice in our favour,” the legislator from Hazara Division went on to say.
Lodhi was also critical of the ruling Awami National Party’s (ANP’s) stance over the issue, saying that the nationalist party was conspiring to foil the bid for the creation of Hazara province.
The PML-Nawaz lawmakers from Hazara, however, did not support the PML-Q, while MPA Barrister Javed Abbasi said that the MQM moved parliament without taking any other political party into confidence.
“It (the bill) is aimed at restarting clashes in Karachi,” Barrister Abbasi warned. “MQM is responsible for the killing of Hazaras. It is sending us dead bodies from Karachi. Their bill is unconstitutional and is aimed at killing more Pashtoons.”
The PML-N legislator clarified that his party was in favour of more provinces and Hazara “does qualify to be given the status of a province”, but the MQM-led move “caused damage to the cause”.
ANP leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain said his party opted for constitutional means to rename the province, but the MQM was using Hazara pretext to pave the way for Jinnahpur province.
The ruling ANP’s stance on the issue contradicts its earlier position, and political analysts wonder what prompted the party to change its policy.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk