News
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Karachi dominates NA, Senate
* Lawmakers demand government to control law, order in Karachi, hold inquiry into target killings
* PML-N, MQM stage walkout from NA, Senate against violence
ISLAMABAD: The brewing security situation in the country’s financial hub dominated the proceedings of the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament on Thursday, with lawmakers from both sides of the aisles demanding the federal government to take effective steps to bring the situation under control and hold inquiry into targeted killings.
In sheer anger over recent firing incidents in Malir area of Karachi, legislators from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in the Senate and both from the MQM and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the National Assembly staged token walkouts from the proceedings.
The Awami National Party (ANP) also pressed the government to ensure its writ in Karachi, while senators from both treasury and opposition benches urged the government to compensate to the victims at the earliest.
In a bid to smooth over the heated session of the NA following the walkout by the MQM lawmakers, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, while sticking to the ruling Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) reconciliatory policy, urged the country’s political leadership to come up with a solution to improve the situation in Karachi.
The premier assured the House that the government would maintain peace in Karachi, saying, “Karachi’s stability is interlinked with political and economic stability of the country. We can’t afford any instability in Karachi.”
Gilani condemned the firing incidents in Malir and Landhi areas, and called a report from the Sindh government in this respect. He also said the report would be presented before the House.
The prime minister told the House that he had directed the PPP’s chief whip from London to ensure quorum in the present session so that the Karachi issue could be debated and suggestions from lawmakers be solicited for improving the situation.
On a point of order, MQM’s Sajid Ahmed drew the attention of the House towards the violence in Malir area which, he alleged, had been triggered by Lyari gang war elements at the behest of Sindh Senior Minister Dr Zufliqar Mirza. He demanded the federal and provincial governments to take stern notice of the incident.
Ahmed regretted that police and rangers had been unable to step up their presence in the area. He also blamed the Sindh government for patronising aggression against innocent citizens of Karachi.
Another MQM legislator, Abdul Qadir Khanzada, said that earlier the epicentre of violence was Katti Pahari but it had been shifted to Malir area now.
He vowed to stand steadfast against all the pressure tactics, saying his community would continue making scarifices for the country.
Khanzada also warned that those elements who had been backing the gangster mafia could not deter his party’s resolve to preserve peace in Karachi.
Referring to the political violence prompted by PPP leader Zulfiqar Mirza’s statement against MQM chief Altaf Hussain, Zafar Bhattiani, an MNA from FATA, blamed the government for poor law and order situation, but equally held the MQM responsible for the bloodshed in Karachi. He asserted that the way the MQM reacted to Mirza’s statement was inappropriate.
In the Senate, MQM’s Babar Khan Ghauri said that innocent persons were being brutally killed for four days but neither police nor rangers rushed to the troubled areas.
He also deplored that innocent people were being massacred but no inquiry was conducted into the incident so far. He demanded the government to penalise those involved in the heinous incident.
Leader of Opposition in Senate, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said the government had miserably failed in unleashing its potential to make Karachi a violence-free city.
Haideri demanded the government that all political parties and religious schools of thought be taken onboard on Karachi situation in order to chalk out a foolproof plan.
ANP’s Senator Zahid Khan, while strongly supporting Babar Khan’s viewpoints, said the government should take bold steps to purge the city of criminals.
He said those murdered in target killings had nothing to do with political parties rather they were poor people. He opined that the issue could be resolved if all political parties joined hands. agencies/staff report
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk