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It warns the government that it is difficult to go along with the ruling party further.
However, the lawmakers from opposition benches as well as the ruling PPP have termed the ‘in-camera’ briefing of IG Police and Home Secretary to the House as futile.
No new disclosure was made as they unveiled the same things which is being reported in media or came in front of public following the verdict of Supreme Court in suo moto notice on Karachi law and order case.
After completing the business of the day, Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro on Thursday while adjourning the session for Friday, announced that media and visitors of all the galleries to leave the Assembly before the commencement of ‘in-camera’ session on law and order problem of Karachi.
Inspector General Police of Sindh, Fayyaz Leghari, Additional Chief Secretary Home Department, Wasim Ahmed and Additional Inspector General Police gave briefing on law and order on projector.
MPAs, who attended the in-camera session, told The Nation that briefing covered all aspects of how many people killed in months, years and how many of them were targeted. IGP and Secretary Home in their briefing also said that various types of crime were happening including terrorism, land grabbing, extortion gangs and ethnic, besides resources and strength of police also was shared in the briefing.
Besides the Taliban and others, the criminal elements expelled by the political parties, are also involved in crime and targeted killings in the City.
The lawmakers from the ruling PPP and opposition benches-PML-F while referring the statement of interior minister Rehman Malik that a local political party was involved in the killings and asked for its name and what steps and action have been taken by the LEAs in this regard.
The Home Secretary told the lawmakers that police arrest the culprits but they manage their release the other day easily.
The lawmakers also raised the questions that how the illegal weapons’ transportation is continued in the city and which political groups are involved in the crime. The IGP and Secretary Home didn’t mention the name of any political party involved in the unrest in the city but many times used words ‘terrorists’ and ‘Taliban’ elements active in the killings in the City.
The Secretary and IGP also referred the verdict of Supreme Court, in which apex court directed the LEAs to collect the weapons from the political parties if they have, adding that the LEAs have recommended the government to approach the political parties and urge them to dissociate the criminal elements in this regard.
The IGP also sought the help of lawmakers to pass Arms Act to control the illegal weapons in the city.
Meanwhile, when the in-camera session was in process, MQM leader and Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed stood on his seat and made a brief speech, saying that our workers being killed by the Lyari gang war criminals but government was not taking any step in this regard.
Instead of taking action, the government has withdrawn the cases of Lyari gang-war criminals, which is unacceptable, he said and announced there is no any benefit to sit to listen in-camera briefing. After his announcement, all the MQM lawmakers led by Syed Sardar and Dr Sagheer Ahmed while boycotted the briefing. They also chanted the slogans of govt’s alliance with criminals not acceptable.
After the boycott, the MQM leader Dr Sagheer Ahmed alongwith other colleagues told the media that they boycotted the in-camera briefing against the withdrawal of the cases of banned Peoples Amn Committee’s criminals.
“Enough is enough,” Dr Sageer said, announcing that his party cannot go along with ruling PPP in coalition further. Even being ally of the government, the PPP has not taken MQM into confidence in withdrawing the cases of Lyari criminals, Dr Sagheer said. By withdrawing the criminal elements’ cases, the PPP has made question mark its credibility, MQM leader said and added that Coordination committee of party will meet urgently and decide future line of action to go along with PPP or not.
Meanwhile, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon after in-camera briefing told the media that PPP government has not withdrawn the cases of any of Peoples Amn Committee people. If government decides to withdraw the cases will consult the MQM, he announced.
He said that MQM is our ally and will remain in coalition as we will contact them.
Meanwhile, opposition as well as ruling PPP lawmakers termed the in-camera briefing had nothing new as it was traditional and same things, which have been published in the media.
Arif Mustafa Jatoi of NPP from opposition benches told The Nation the in-camera briefing was nothing any disclosure or any new information. “The information on law and order problem of Karachi shared in the in-camera briefing was same which is being published and aired in the media and available on websites”, Arif Jatoi commented, adding, “I am not satisfied with the briefing as it had nothing any solution.”
He further said that the LEAs briefed that shortage of manpower in police, saying that only one policeman is to safeguard 2,000 people in the City. He said the LEAs did not mention the name of any political party involved in the unrest incidents.
Marvi Rashdi of PML-F said that there was nothing new in the briefing and we are not satisfied.
Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza said that information shared in the briefing was same which coming in the media. She said further said that lawmakers was informed that Talibans are active in killings in the city.
