Opposition in the National Assembly on Thursday criticised the government for failure to maintain law-and-order situation in Karachi and blamed the government for rigging AJK Legislative Assembly's elections.
Speaking in the National Assembly on the opening day of the two days' session requisitioned by the opposition to discuss law-and-order situation in Karachi, Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) demanded fresh elections in AJK.
While taking part in the debate on the issue of target killings and rigging AJK elections, Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi of MQM claimed that AJK elections were rigged and demanded the government to hold free, fair and transparent elections in AJK. If the government did not fulfil their demand they would approach Supreme Court for holding fresh polls, he said.
Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi while speaking on the issue of Karachi said that innocent people were killed during five days of violence that erupted from Kati Pahari in Karachi, but police and authorities concerned watched the situation as a silent spectator.
He said that the innocent people were being killed for five days in the area of Kati Pahari but the government did not deploy Rangers instantly after the riots broke. He said that after five days, when the Rangers were deployed, peace was established within an hour.
He said that the people of this area were besieged for five days and no food and water was supplied to them. He said that even after establishing peace, no representative of the government came even for sympathising with the families of slain people.
While participating in debate, Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the Executive has locked horns with the Supreme Court which is an attempt to deface the Constitution. "If the institutions did not remain in their legal limits then constitutional structure of the state would collapse," he said.
He said that the case of NICL is being lingered on, as Zafar Qureshi's date of retirement that is September 30, 2011, is nearing.
The PML-N leader said that political alliances are being made on the basis of loot and plunder and to increase the bargaining power. He said that all limits of political opportunism have been crossed during last three years, which has beaten the record of last 62 years.
About target killings in Karachi, Khawaja said that innocent people are being killed and blood is being split ruthlessly for the sake of politics. "Who are these people and to which party they belong as they are slaughtering people without any fear. There are three parties in power. Interior Minister Rehman Malik says that he knows from where weapons are coming and who is supplying them but he does not take any action against these people.
About AJK election, he said that AJK election was a trailer for forthcoming election. He claimed that the strings of government installed in Azad Jammu and Kashmir are controlled by Islamabad.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi blamed the government for borrowing from the State Bank of Pakistan and commercial banks are the major reason of the current economic problem besides energy crisis.
He said the government borrowing from the banking system has exceeded the total borrowing by the private sector.
Referring to news reports, he said that the trend would continue in the current fiscal year as the government would borrow Rs 1 trillion to meet the revenue and expenditure difference. The Pakistan Muslim League (N) legislator said that nothing has been done during the last three years' tenure of the present government to minimise the losses of state owned enterprises.
He also referred to the statement of Minister for Railway that organisation does not have money to purchase the oil and stated that similar situation is in PIA and other bleeding entities. Criticising the government, Shahid Khaqan said that energy crisis from the last three years has caused huge dent to the economy and consequently the country is witnessing more unemployment and less growth but it did not move the government. He said that the people across the country are badly disturbed by the prevailing power outages. He said that the government has repeatedly requested to place before the parliament the reasons behind the energy crisis however, the suggestions were simply ignored.
He said that he would like to ask the government whether things have improved or worsened during the last three years and is it able to bring about good governance in the country and resolve the problem of dearness and energy crisis in the country. Shahid Khaqan said the corruption and incompetence of the government have shaken masses' faith in democracy and political parties.
Minister of State for Defence Production Sardar Bahadar Ahmed Khan Sehar rejected claim of the opposition that the government has not delivered during the last three years. He said it has to its credit successful operation against militants in Swat and Malakand‚ 18th and 19th Constitutional Amendments and NFC Award.