Extrajudicial killings issue echoes in Senate

By our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Monday demanded of the government to send the cases of policemen "involved in extrajudicial killings" to Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs). Senator Aftab Shaikh, parliamentary leader of MQM, first in an outburst against "extrajudicial killings" inside the House and then at a press conference at Parliament cafeteria, said that inquiry into three out of ten cases of "extrajudicial killings" had been completedwherein the police had been found involved. He said that the inquiry was conducted by deputy commissioner (central).

The opposition parties, including the PPP, also criticised the government for victimising political opponents. Raza Rabbani said that midnight raids were being conducted at the residences of PPP workers throughout the country.

Aftab Shaikh deplored that the government had imposed governor's rule in Sindh but the province was being run by the Inspector General Sindh with the help of "infamous" SHOs. He said that on the matter of action against police governor was helpless because of powerful IG being backed by the federal government.

Aftab Shaikh said his party also opposes ATCs but demanded cases against police to be tried in these courts because MQM wants that the police must taste what had been delivered to our workers. He demanded that the governor should be given free hand regarding action against police in this context. Giving details about inquiry report, Aftab Shaikh said that "it has established extrajudicial killing of MQM worker Faseeh Ahmad Jugnu."

Earlier Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq while responding to Aftab Shaikh's concern on the issue, told the House that inquiry report would be first sent to governor and then to the prime minister. He said that the federal government would decide its action only after receiving the report.

Responding to Aftab Shaikh's point of order, Interior Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said this question was recently raised by the MQM. "We had contacted the provincial government which informed us that no extrajudicial killings have taken place. If the MQM senator has any proof, substantiating his claim about extrajudicial killings, he should submit it to my ministry in writing and I will investigate into the matter by taking up the issue with the provincial government again," Shujaat said.

Interior minister's statement provoked the opposition members who described Shujaat's remarks as "irresponsible". Aftab Shaikh said the way interior minister had made the statement on the issue was enough to create pandemonium in the House, adding that instead of giving a concrete answer, he has made a highly belligerent statement.

Referring to points raised by Raza Rabbani, Raja Zafarul Haq said that the government would not allow anyone to take law in his hand, adding that PPP was now making hue and cry and levelling baseless allegations against the government. They had completely forgotten that more than 60,000 PML-N workers had been put in jails while PPP was in power.