Qaim insists no falling out with the paramilitary force; says we have the majority, live with it!
Khuhro says PPP would protest if Governor Rule imposed in the province;
Protests held in Karachi against the government for stalling Rangers’ activities
Chants and slogans were raised by the Opposition MPAs in the Sindh Assembly in protest against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) -led government for not taking up the issue of extending Rangers’ special powers in the province.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Functional (PML-F) protested in the assembly. Sindh Education Minister Nisar Khuhro and Nusrat Sehar Abbas exchanged hot words over the issue.
Amid chants and sloganeering, the Sindh Assembly session was adjourned till 10AM on Tuesday.
However, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the party which has always expressed strong reservations over Karachi operation terming it part of ‘minus one formula’ did not participate in the protest.
The session was expected to resolve the matter of extending Rangers’ special powers in Sindh, which had expired on Dec 6, with the federal government and Sindh at odds over the matter.
The discussion regarding the extension of special police powers for Rangers’ was 11th on the day’s agenda. But speaker Agha Siraj Durrani had to adjourn the session after normal proceedings could not be held.
No resolution was presented nor discussion held on the key issue of the Rangers’ powers.
The opposition parties said that the government put the resolution so far down in the agenda on purpose. On the other hand, Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah assured once again that there is no falling-out with the paramilitary force and the matter would be resolved soon.
Talking to the media personnel outside the assembly, Shah said that the minority could not dictate the majority as per democratic norms. He said that the opposition had violated the sanctity of the house.
Opposition Leader in the Sindh Assembly Khawaja Izharul Hassan said that Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani barred him from addressing the participants. He could not talk to the members because he was not allowed to, he added.
PPP WON’T STAND GOVERNOR RULE:
Sindh Education Minister Nisar Khuhro told media personnel after the assembly’s session that it would not be a wise move to remove the democratic set-up in the province and replace it with Governor’s Rule.
“If Governor’s Rule is implemented in Sindh, then we would resist it, like we did in 1998,” stated Khuro.
He also said that democratic institutions should be given the time to take their own course. “Why can’t we wait for the assembly?”
“The law and order situation in the province has improved, so why would Governor’s Rule be implemented in Sindh,” asked the minister.
Meanwhile, PTI chairman Imran Khan said that Rangers are not being granted extension in stay to cover corruption on the part of several leaders. Had police in Karachi been efficient, Rangers would not have been needed, he added.
RALLIES DEMAND RANGERS RETURN:
Traders in Karachi took to streets to protest against the government as Rangers’ issue lingered. Leaders of the trading bodies said that Rangers’ presence was important for the city to function at this point. Merchants protested in Sadar area against government stalling the Rangers’ activities in the city.
A rally was also taken out by various political parties in support of the paramilitary force and extension in their policing powers.
PTI and PML-F jointly took out a rally at the city’s busiest thoroughfare Sharah-e-Faisal, calling upon the provincial government to grant extension in special powers to Rangers.
The rally, which began at 4PM, culminated at 6PM in Saddar.
Similarly, a protest demonstration was staged at Numaish Chowrangi by Majlis Wahdat ul Muslimeen (MWM) in support of the Rangers.
Protests led to severe traffic jams in Karachi’s downtown area.
Several other associations, including mobile market dealers and Fruit and Vegetable Association, demonstrated support for the paramilitary force and demanded that they stay in Karachi.
A lot to read in the Media on the subject. PPP, the party which is headed by One of Asia's most corrupt leader', was happy so far Rangers were busy at 90 and around. But once they stepped on the tail of the PPP, all resistance. For the larger interest of the country, Rangers' Operation should continue – come what may.
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