PPP, MQM-P lawmakers demand abolition of 'intimidating' NAB.

Byline: Hasan Mansoor

KARACHI -- The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party and a major opposition party in the Sindh Assembly, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan, on Tuesday demanded that the 'menacing' National Accountability Bureau law be scrapped. Besides, the house unanimously passed a resolution calling for punishing those who vandalised the MQM's 'Martyrs Monument' (Yadgar-i-Shuhada) in Karachi's Azizabad area.

The house began with the speeches made by members from both sides of the aisle in which Speaker Siraj Durrani, members Faryal Talpur, MQM-P's Jawed Hanif, ex-president Asif Zardari and PPP MNA Khursheed Shah were congratulated for getting bail in various cases of graft and assets beyond known sources of income against them.

Those sitting on the opposition benches and belonging to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf were seen little interested in showing excitement over the matter. The speech made by the opposition leader, Firdous Shamim Naqvi, led the chair to declare that he did not want such greetings.

Mr Naqvi said it was a moment of joy to see all leaders were being released on bail by courts, but 'it has brought no betterment for the people'.

'It is good to see all [political] stalwarts being released on bail, but this has brought nothing good for the poor. People are getting no water to drink,' said Mr Naqvi.

A unanimous resolution seeks punishment for those who vandalised Muttahida's 'Martyrs Monument'

PPP's Sharjeel Inam Memon, who had already got bail in a graft case, and Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh reacted to Mr Naqvi's statement and remarks made by other PTI lawmakers who spoke with their microphones off.

'They could not bear it with grace when we show them the mirror,' said Mr Shaikh.

His speech did not go down well with the PTI lawmakers who protested loudly and exchanged accusations with those sitting on the treasury benches. They also chanted anti-PPP slogans.

The lawmakers from the two sides came to the fore and prevented a face-off between Mr Memon and PTI lawmakers.

MQM-P's Jawed Hanif said a dominant majority of the persons imprisoned on corruption charges were 'innocent', and demanded scrapping the NAB law.

'At least 80 per cent of those who are behind bars on corruption charges are innocent. They have committed no crime. The NAB law should be scrapped once and for all,' said Mr Hanif, a retired bureaucrat.

Women Development Minister Shehla Raza said NAB law's abolition should be taken as the key priority.

'NAB itself...