Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday slammed the Sindh government for arrests of innocent Pakhtuns by law enforcers on the pretext of illegal Afghan immigrants across the province. PTI's legislator, Khurrum Sher Zaman Khan during the Sindh Assembly session sought explanations from the government on Pakhtuns arrests in different parts of the province including Karachi.
"The law enforcement agencies personnel first arrest them on the pretext that they are illegal Afghan immigrants and then free them after extorting money," he alleged asking the government to clarify what were the reasons behind government's decision to go after Pakhtuns in the guise of action against the illegal immigrants. He also called the attitude of NADRA towards Pakhtuns was saddening. He said that some 5 million ethnic Pakhtuns live in Karachi alone.
Replying to his call attention notice, Sindh Senior Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro denied that Pakhtuns were being arrested in the province. He said that Karachi is the city where more Pakhtuns live as compared to Peshawar, capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province because they too are the citizens of this city. He clarified that police take action against the illegal immigrants whether they are Afghans or Bengalis.
"Terrorism has gripped Pakistan while census is about to start," he said, adding that the illegal immigrants will also be made part of the census but under another category. He said that the government is taking indiscriminate action against the immigrants. The provincial legislature that had been in chaos from the start of current session, witnessed another walkout from the opposition who protested against denial of permission to them to raise issues of their constituencies. The main opposition party alleged that Deputy Speaker, Shehla Raza was partial. After remonstration with Shehla Raza, MPA Khalid left the house in protest.
MQM's Muhammad Hussain who also wanted to express his views on a point of order was not allowed to do so. He accused the deputy speaker of not presiding over the assembly neutrally hence was walking out in protest. Other members from the opposition also followed him.
Meanwhile, the house adopted 'The Sindh Livestock Breeding Bill 2016," despite a lack of quorum because only 29 legislators were present. Khuhro urged the opposition to desist from walkouts on trivial issues. He said that the legislation with the opposition is called democracy. The house will now meet on Monday morning at 10 am.
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