Leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Wednesday once again asked its ruling partner Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), to initiate action against those involved in terrorist activities or the situation would soon spiral out of control. Speaking on a point of order during the Sindh Assembly general budget discussion, MQM’s Deputy Parliamentary Leader Faisal Sabzwari said despite Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad and Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah meeting with the political parties, the terror activities are continuing. “No action has been seen against criminals involved in armed attacks in the city,” he added.
Referring to Tuesday’s incidents, the MQM leader said the terrorists first struck at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology and went on to attack doctors and paramedics at the Liaquat National Hospital. Besides, he added, an MQM worker, Asad, was murdered after being kidnapped.
MPA Abdul Moeed Siddiqui said the law and order situation is getting worse day by day and terrorists have expanded their attacks to institutions like Liaquat Hospital. Armed attacks and firing incidents are continuing in the city. He warned that the situation would become out of control if the government does not take action against criminals and terrorists.
Replying on the points, PPP’s Sindh Katchi Abadis Minister Rafiq Engineer said the government was concerned over the incidents and taking the situation seriously as steps have been taken to maintain the law and order situation with the help of coalition partners, MQM and ANP. He also appealed that all political parties should direct their student wings to play due role in maintaining peace in educational institutions.
Earlier, terming the increase in government employees’ salaries as a commendable step, MQM’s Muhammad Ali Sheikh said the government should also ensure an increase in the salaries of private employees.
“The employees in private factories are being paid Rs 7,000 salary and facing extreme difficulties in running their routine expenses due to the price hike and inflation,” said Sheikh, demanding that the government also ensures increase in salaries of employees working in the private sector.
MQM’s Zareen Majeed was of the view that Karachi annually contributes 67 percent revenue to the national exchequer and over 70 percent to the province; and therefore the allocation of Rs 2 billion for Karachi in the budget was sheer injustice with the city.
She demanded a special package for the Karachi and at least 70 percent cut in the non-developmental expenditures in the annual budget.
Terming the reduction in non-development expenses in the new budget as a positive step, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) MPA Humera Alwani said the province is catering to around 56 percent needs of oil and 77 percent of gas in the country and the federal government should be asked to provide 50 percent royalty to the province on these natural resources.
Demanding more funds for the development of Gorakh Hill Station, PPP’s Syed Ghulam Shah said its development will not only be beneficial for the economy of Dadu district but also for the whole province.
Another PPP legislator, Ghulam Sarwar Siyal was hopeful that flood-affected people get more relief due to funds allocated for their rehabilitation in the budget.
Shahnaz Begum of the MQM, meanwhile, demanded launch of more low-cost housing schemes in the province for the poor as it would also discourage new katchi abadis in the city. She complained that no funds were allocated in the new budget for provision of facilities to people living in katchi abadis and also sought the government’s attention towards presence of criminal elements in slums.
Expressing reservations over the development of Zulfikarabad in district Thatta, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s Shah Hussain Shah Shirazi said that the project will only be supported if the government assures that priority of employment and residence will be given to the local people. He also said that the law and order situation in his district has worsened and people cannot go outside their houses after 7:00 in the evening.
