Uproar in NA over karo-kari comment
ISLAMABAD – The National Assembly witnessed uproar on July 19, as a treasury member differed on the issue of ‘Karo Kari’.
Religious hard-liner Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) kept themselves quite during the whole proceedings while Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) expressed grave anger on the remarks of MNA Salim Jan Mazari and staged walkout from the House.
Speaking on a point of order, Salim Jan Mazari from PML (Q) remarked that government could not permit immoral practices in the name of Karo Kari.
MMA welcomed his remarks and thumped desks however his single sentence provoked his own party members and Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians’ MNAs got furious. Some of the parliamentarians shouted at and abused each other.
Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan said that Saleem Jan’s remarks have humiliated this august House. He emphasised that Saleem Mazari should contradict his remarks at once.
MNA Kashmala Tariq, who was also one of the mover of calling attention notice regarding threats to the lives of a couple who got married recently on their own, said that Islam allows marriage of two adults with mutual consent.
She condemned Mazari’s remarks and demanded of the Speaker to expunge these remarks.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain from MQM said that Karo Kari must be uprooted from the society and termed it an anti-Islamic law.
MNA Zulfiqar Dhilon was of the view that Karo Kari is a very serious issue and government should evolve national consensus before legislation on the issue.
Expressing deep anger over treasury member’s remarks, Haider Abbas Rizvi from MQM said that these remarks are highly condemnable and his party staged walkout.
Earlier, MNA Gule Farkhanda moved a calling attention notice regarding life threats to Dr Ghulam Mustafa Solangi and his wife Dr Amant Solangi, who got married recently.
Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Nouraiz Shakoor said that it is not a matter of national importance. It is a provincial matter therefore it should be moved at provincial level.
He assured the House that government would direct the provincial government to submit its report in the National Assembly as soon as possible, assuring that government will try its best to provide security to the said couple.
However, Kashmala Tariq was not satisfied with the minister’s assurance and said that it is a very serious issue and President Musharraf and Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain have also taken serious notice of it.
She was of the view that there is a great threat to Dr Ghulam Mustafa Solangi and Dr Amanat Solangi lives therefore government should take immediate steps for their security.
She also demanded of the government to award exemplary punishment to the 14 accused, involved in this case.
Gayan Chand Singh, Mehnaz Rafi and other women Members of the National Assembly also shared their views and said that Karo Kari is a social evil. They urged the government to take immediate steps against the culprits and provide maximum security to the aggrieved couple.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:7/20/2004
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