KARACHI - The lawmakers of Sindh Assembly have emphasised on the government to equip the police with modern facilities and training to cope with the deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi instead of giving powers to Rangers.
They also called upon the political parties to dismantle the militant wings and disown the criminals. The session of the Provincial Assembly was summoned on the requisition of MQM, which commenced at 10.44 am on Monday morning with Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in the chair.
The session ended with allegations and counter-allegations by the Opposition and Treasury benches without adopting a plan to tackle the law and order situation of the province with special reference to Karachi.
The MPAs from Opposition parties-MQM, PML-N, PML-F and PTI delivered speeches on adjournment motion tabled by the MQM members including Khawaja Izharul Hassan, Heer Soho and others, urging the chair to start discussion on law and order situation of Sindh province especially Karachi, where 430 people have lost their lives from June 1st to August 28 this year, while hundreds of the traders and businessmen have been threatened to pay extortion money. Concluding the discussion, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon came hard on the Opposition MQM, stating that every one knows how and when the terminology of the “ bodies in bags” was introduced in Karachi. 
He said that government admitted the law and order situation is worst, but the same time the government is striving to tackle the issue with sincere efforts.
He said that Karachi is mega City, where 100pc law and order could not be maintained.
He termed the demand of calling Army to tackle the law and order problem a conspiracy against the people of Karachi but also against the Army.
He said that we don’t want to open a new door of Balochistan like situation by inviting the Army in Karachi.
Sharjeel rejected the allegations about posting of police officers on money, stating that police and Rangers have been given free hand to take steps to ensure law and order situation. He said that LEAs are playing active role to curb the crime by arresting the terrorists in large numbers, advising to avoid demoralising the police with criticism.
Information Minister said that target killers involved in 100 killings was also arrested by the police.
Pointing fingers to the MQM, he appealed to the political parties to disown the criminals.
He further said that the 35 prisoners involved in killings under Section 302 of PPC were also released with under trial prisoners on parole by MQM’s Adviser on Home Department during 2002 to 2007.
He appealed to the political parties especially the MQM to forget past and move forward with positive suggestions to improve the law and order situation.
He also urged the political parties to swear on Holy Quran to stop backing the criminals by disowning them and not protecting the criminals in our ranks. He said that police arrested the criminals of other areas of the City who were fighting on behalf of Kuchhis of Lyari and they confessed on whose behest they were involved in such crime.
Earlier, Opposition leader of MQM Syed Faisal Sabzwari in his speech said that MQM demanded the Army deployment to save the lives of the people. He said that his party will support all Constitutional and legal steps of the government to eliminate the crime in City, hoping that any episode of 1992 action is not repeated in the City.
MQM’s Parliamentary leader Syed Sardar Ahmed said that the police should be strengthened to deal with the law and order situation.
Khawaja Izharul Hassan said that despite the increase in finances for police, the law and order situation is worsening with every passing day in the City.
He said that the five workers of the MQM were arrested by unknown State agencies but they were not presented in any court of law, asking the govt to look into the matter and save their lives.
PML-F’s Nusrat Sehar Abbasi said that the PPP and MQM should make serious efforts as Supreme Court had also directed the parties to dismantle the militant wings.
PML-N’s Irfanullah Marwat said that the chapter of Army action has gone now as all the political parties have consensus on action by the police and Rangers against the criminals.
Khuram Sherzaman of PTI demanded that the government to investigate into killings of the police officers who took part in 1992 action.
Provincial Minister for Jails Manzoor Wassan said that land grabbing and other issues are behind the law and order problem in City. He said that even some prisoners go in jail to handle the crimes in City.
PML-N’s Aijaz Shah Shirazi alleged that PPP government has started victimisation as 50 cases of murder and other have been lodged against his supporters and family members in Thatta.
His allegations caused same reply from the Treasury benches as PPP’s Rehana Leghari said that Shirazi brothers lodged false cases against her family and PPP workers.
During the allegations between PML-N MPA and PPP women members caused pandemonium in the House for a few minutes.
Khalid Ahmed, Heer Soho and Rauf Siddique of MQM, Hafeezuddin of PTI, Parveen of PPP and Aijaz Shirazi of PML-N spoke on the adjournment motion.
Earlier, House disposed of the privilege motion of the MQM’s Opposition Leader Syed Sabzwari, who did not press to take up the issue following the assurances of government side.
In his privilege motion, Opposition Leader said that the names of more than nine sitting MPAs of his party have been included in the most wanted criminals list released by police and law-enforcement agencies.
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Sikandar Mandhro said that Opposition leader has not given us concrete proof like list or other relevant evidence, terming the privilege motion as hypothetical.
After one hour debate on this issue, the Opposition leader and other MQM MPAs who were pressing to take up the issue by constituting a committee.
Information Minister assured Syed Sabzwari that the govt has not written this letter nor has any plan to arrest the MQM’s lawmakers as government will continue the reconciliation policy with all the political parties.
Later, the House unanimously adopted a resolution moved by Sharmila Farooqi and other members of the PPP, paying rich tributes to former President Asif Ali Zardari on his completion of his five year term in office, his outstanding services for the cause of strengthening democracy, solidifying the Federation, promoting political reconciliation and harmony, his support for restoring 1973 Constitution and transferring powers back to the Parliament.
Later, chair prorogued the House for indefinite period.