Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Balochistan killings echo in NA

Daily Times

The fast-deteriorating security situation in Balochistan figured prominently in the Lower House of parliament when the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government came under fire for its failure in controlling the killing spree with increasing recoveries of mutilated bodies in various parts of the scarcely populated province.

Although being a private member day, the session took up the business, but the Balochistan situation strongly resounded in the House as lawmakers spoke across party lines. The Balochistan issue triggered points of order when some members spoke on the killing of wife and daughter of MPA Mir Bakhtiyar Domki in Karachi, demanding arrest of their killers.

The members also called for a special committee to inspect the worsening law and order in Balochistan and urged the government to take the House on board on the issue. The lawmakers also suggested that parliamentary committees should be formed on Karachi and Balochistan to inform the House about their observations.

Balochistan MNA Humayun Aziz Kurd said that secrete agencies were behind the unrest in the province and called for putting an end to injustices being committed by these agencies.

PML-N MNA Lt Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch deplored that despite the lapse of several months, the committee formed by the House could not submit its report. “It seems these committees are simply a joke with Balochistan’s people” and called for a detailed debate on the Balochistan situation.

JUI-F legislator Asiya Nasir called for a political solution to the Balochistan issue, saying the use of force had not served the purpose in the past and would not do so in the future also.

Dr Zille Huma also stressed on submitting committee reports to the House as it was already too late.

MQM’s Asif Hasnain also castigated the government for its non-serious approach on Balochistan issue and feared that a Bangladesh-like situation could emerge in the violence-hit province if correct measures were not adopted. Dr Lal Chand, Nawab Yusuf Talpur, Akhunzada Chattan and Abdul Ghani Talpur also spoke on the issue.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik repeated his words, saying that the government had taken cognisance of the killings of the Domki women and the Sindh additional inspector general had been tasked to probe the incident. “The apex court has also taken notice of the issue and directed the authorities concerned to arrest the culprits,” he said. The minister also condemned the murder of a Sindh University professor and said that those involved in the criminal act would be brought to justice.

The proceedings were also marked with the walkout by PML-Q legislator Prince Mohiyuddin against remarks of the interior minister about the involvement of people of Chitral in violence in Karachi. Taking up business, the House disposed of various items on the order of the day.

The House unanimously passed the Medical and Dental Council (Amendment) Bill, 2009 to further amend the Medical and Dental Council Ordinance 1962.

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