Provincial legislators belonging to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) on Friday escaped a possible scuffle during the Sindh Assembly session, which spanned for short period of time amid uproar. Since formation of the coalition government, in which PPP has a greater share followed by MQM, today's session turned violent for the first time during as both partners were seen close to a scuffle and infuriated at each other.
The MQM lawmakers from the first minute began chanting slogans against extortionists in the metropolis holding placards which read "CM Sindh and Sindh Home Minister rein in terrorists and extortionists," "arrest the elements involved in abductions for ransoms," "stop patronising extortionists," "partiality will not be tolerated," "feudalism will not be allowed to dominate," and other such slogans.
The House proceedings could not run smoothly as the uproar created in the wake of MQM members' slogans left everyone in the house unheard. The MQM legislators tore up the copies of the assembly's agenda and tossed them into air. Some of the MQM lawmakers also stood over the desk and chanted slogans. One of the MPs was just stopped before clashing with Sindh Food Minister Nadir Khan Magsi.
Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza who was chairing the session gave a ruling that the attitude of MQM members inside the House was inept. The uproar forced her to wind up the proceedings without taking up the daily-business agenda of the assembly. She called the House to meet on Monday at 10 am just after the sitting lasted for 15 minutes. The agitation left nearly over half a dozen microphones broken.
The MQM members also clashed briefly with National Peoples Party's (NPP) legislator, Arif Mustafa Jatoi as he wanted to speak in the House during uproar and after failing to utter his opinion he tried to go close to the chairwoman to let her know of his view. But the angry MQM legislators grabbed him and pushed him back to his seat which enraged him. But, he did not react and stayed on his seat.
PPP's Sindh Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah, Nadir Magsi, Muhammad Rafiq Advocate, Aga Siraj Durrani, Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wasan and others were also seen perturbed and angry at their coalition partners' protest. But, Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq was witnessed smiling all the way during the protest. Members of either side exchanged bitter words and at one time they were seen closer to a violent collision.