KARACHI: Addressing the Sindh Assembly on Tuesday, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar apologised to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) legislator, Wajid Hussain Khan over police excesses during the February 8 protest, and said an inquiry was also under way into the arrest of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) MPA Muhammad Farooq.
The issue dominated the subsequent proceedings, with the home minister repeatedly stressing the need to balance the right to protest with public order and court directives. He maintained that while excesses against elected representatives were unacceptable and would be dealt with strictly, shutting down major arteries such as Shahrah-e-Faisal caused undue hardship to citizens and could not be justified. He cited court orders mandating strict action, including terrorism cases, against those who block roads.
Opposition members pressed for clarity on accountability, particularly regarding who authorised police action against protesters and the removal of camps and sound systems outside the Election Commission office. The home minister reiterated that investigations were under way and assured the House that responsibility would be fixed after due process.
The discussion later broadened to law and order norms and institutional conduct. The home minister expressed concern over incidents in which lawyers and political workers stormed police stations, warning that such actions undermined the rule of law. He said the government would act against any unlawful behaviour, including if it involved parliamentarians, while reiterating that the ruling party did not believe in political victimisation.
Earlier, JI MPA Muhammad Farooq, while raising his point of order, said a JI press conference was planned outside the provincial Election Commission office where they only intended to speak to the media. He alleged that the camp and sound system were removed even before their arrival. He said he did not blame the police, as they were following orders, but demanded to know who had issued those orders. He claimed he was forcibly arrested after being grabbed by his clothes.
Meantime, the House dismissed all opposition resolutions presented during Private Members’ Day in the Assembly with one by MQM lawmaker, Aamir Siddiqui, moved a resolution drawing attention to the discharge of untreated sewage into Karachi’s sea, warning that it was causing severe marine pollution. He urged the government to improve sewage disposal and wastewater treatment systems.
Opposing the motion, Provincial Minister Jam Khan Shoro said the matter had already been discussed multiple times and assured the House that the government was working on solutions. He informed members that pilot projects were under way and that work on TP-IV would be completed soon. The resolution was subsequently rejected.
Another MQM legislator, Aneel Kumar presented a resolution seeking a complete ban on the sale and purchase of liquor in Sindh and the cancellation of all liquor licences. Home Minister Zia Ul Hassan Lanjar opposed the proposal, stating that such a ban would deprive a large segment of society. He remarked that “my friend seems a bit emotional today.” The House rejected the resolution.
The Assembly also turned down a resolution moved by MQM’s lady lawmaker, Qurat Ul Ain Khan on introducing life-based skills education to prevent sexual abuse and child harassment. Opposing the proposal, the home minister said the resolution lacked clarity and was divided into two parts, adding that it required improvement.
Another resolution by Qurat Ul Ain Khan, called for the formation of a committee to review the performance of the Sindh Building Control Authority, was also rejected after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar informed the House that a committee on the issue already existed.
Later, the Sindh Assembly session was adjourned until Friday at 2:30pm.
Earlier, during question hour related to the Environment and Coastal Development Department, Parliamentary Secretary Syed Hussain Shah, responding on behalf of the provincial minister, said a complete ban on plastic bags was in force across Sindh. He said major companies had shifted to paper alternatives, while some had challenged the ban in courts.
He told the House that extensive mangrove plantation had been carried out under tree plantation initiatives, with more than 54,000 trees planted along the coastal areas of Karachi, Badin and Thatta. Large industrial units had also been directed to plant trees, citing plantation efforts by Ranipur Sugar Mills and a biscuit manufacturing company in Sukkur.
The parliamentary secretary said all recruitments in the department had been made on merit, adding that vacancies still existed and would be filled through the Sindh Public Service Commission. He informed members that details of new jobs were available on the Sindh Job Portal and said more than 600 actions had been taken against environmental violations.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026