The Provincial Assembly of Sindh on Tuesday rejected a resolution seeking to pay tribute to those killed during the May 12, 2007, violence and armed unrest in Karachi, prompting senior parliamentarian Nisar Ahmed Khuhro to stage a walkout in protest.
The session presided over by PA Speaker Syed Awais Qadir Shah began with Fateha for the soldiers of the Pakistan Army martyred in Waziristan and for those killed during the May 12 violence in Karachi.
During the proceedings, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Shabbir Qureshi tabled the resolution on the May 12 incident, saying that democratic parties had organised rallies on that day but “innocent people were brutally killed”.
MPA Qureshi stressed that he had not named any political party, and was only referring to the victims who had lost their lives on the ill-fated day.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) legislator Taha Ahmed condemned the May 12 violence but argued that activists of the MQM had also been killed that day.
MPA Ahmed said if the MQM had been involved, its own workers would not have been among the dead, adding that the violence stemmed from clashes between political groups. The situation escalated when Pakistan Peoples Party Sindh President and lawmaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro objected to the PA speaker allowing the resolution to be moved out of turn.
MPA Khuhro said he had wanted to speak on the matter, but the resolution was rejected before he was given an opportunity. He subsequently walked out of the House in protest. The assembly later formally rejected the resolution.
Meanwhile, the PA unanimously passed a separate resolution against the repeated instances of honour killing. The resolution moved by MQM-P legislator Bilqees Mukhtar demanded strict punishment for those responsible for the murder of Rubina Chandio.
Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho supported the resolution, questioning why jirgas continue to take place in the province, asserting that women have the Islamic right to marry by choice. She described honour killings as “murders of dishonour rather than honour”.
Women Development Minister Shaheena Sher Ali informed the House that two girls were recently rescued from Tando Allahyar and Khairpur, while suspects in the Rubina Chandio murder case have been arrested.
Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar told the PA that 20 suspects linked to the Rubina Chandio case have been arrested and are currently in jail, describing such incidents as a source of shame for society.
During the question hour on the health department, Dr Azra said Sindh has thousands of unverified malaria cases, while concerns also remain over the reporting of deaths. She said hospitals are put on alert during the monsoon season, and dengue spray campaigns would be carried out across the province.
The PA also approved several private resolutions moved by opposition lawmakers during private members’ day. PTI lawmaker Sajjad Soomro proposed that the Sindh government purchase only electric vehicles and motorbikes for official use. Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah endorsed the proposal, after which the House passed the resolution.
PTI legislator Muhammad Owais moved another resolution regarding unannounced gas loadshedding in urban areas. MPAs demanded an end to unscheduled gas outages, while parliamentary leaders stressed that the issue affects the whole of Sindh rather than only urban centres. The resolution was approved.
