Walkout in Senate over Karachi situation

ISLAMABAD: Senators belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F (JUI-F) and Balochistan National Party (BNP) staged walkout over worsening law and order situation in Karachi and Balochistan during Thursday's session of the upper house held here under Deputy Chairman Sabir Baloch.

MQM senator Tahir Mashhadi regretted that Karachi was burning and despite being a major stakeholder of the metropolis nobody was paying heed to its grievances. "Rangers are busy running big organizations but have failed to play their due role towards maintenance of peace in the city," he added.

Condemning the assassination of religious scholars, he demanded the arrest of the culprits.

Senator Jaffar Iqbal of PML-N said the government has failed in Sindh. Criticizing the MQM, he said it should quit playing a dual-role by parting ways with the government to prove that it stands in solidarity with the tormented people of Karachi.

In response, MQM's Mashhadi said it was essential for his party to remain an ally of Pakistan People's Party because it 'respects our mandate'. "President Zardari believes in the policy of reconciliation. We were with PPP in the past and we will continue to remain with it in future too," he argued.

He termed the opposition's demand to pull out of the ruling coalition as 'point scoring'.