A squabble broke out between the members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the Sindh Assembly on Monday after PML-F’s Marvi Rashdi moved an adjournment motion seeking discussion on incidents of targeted killings in Karachi.
The government members opposed the motion on different pretexts, especially claiming that the matter was sub judice. Nevertheless, Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro deferred the matter until Tuesday (today) and directed the members of the PPP to convince him of the matter being sub judice.
Law Minister Ayaz Soomro and Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon told the speaker that the matter was sub judice because many cases of targeted killings are pending in the courts. However, the speaker was not convinced of their arguments.
According to the assembly rules, any adjournment motion requires a half-hour discussion. However, half an hour was spent only on arguing whether or not the matter could be discussed. After the lawmakers of the PML-F and the PPP were done arguing, Khuhro said, “I am neither accepting the motion nor rejecting it.”
Quoting Article No 9 of the Constitution of Pakistan, PML-F’s Marvi Rashdi said that the article guarantees protecting the lives and the properties of the citizens. She said that the issue of targeted killings holds a great deal of importance because it has been causing the people of the city to live in a constant state of fear and insecurity.
Incidents of targeted killings must be brought to an end and the government must ensure providing protection to the lives and the properties of the citizens, she added. Education and Literacy Minister Pir Mazharul Haq said that the PML-F legislature was enjoying “aik ticket mein dou mazey” (being a part of the opposition and the government at the same time).
He said that the PML-F is a part of the same government that they are making demands of and accusing. The issue of targeted killings is a serious matter and the PML-F must stop politicking and point-scoring on it, he added.
Opposition leader Jam Madad Ali from the PML-F said that the issue of targeted killings is an important one and it relates to the lives and the properties of the citizens. Therefore, anyone from the treasury or the opposition benches could move a motion in this regard, he added.
