National Assembly has unanimously decided to formulate a Fact Finding Committee to probe into the killing of persons belonging to Hindu minority in District Umerkot of Sindh. The issue of killing of two people from Hindu minority community and relatives of sitting MNA Lal Chand was raised by Vice Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Shah Mahmood Qureshi on the floor of the House, saying that the Umerkot city has been shut down for two days while the police dismantled the camps of women and children who were holding peaceful protest against the killing.
He also claimed that the police mishandled women protesters. He said that the provincial and federal governments should take steps for the protection of minorities. Nawab Yousaf Talpur, MNA from Umerkot, said that a Fact Finding Parliamentary Committee should be constituted to investigate the incident and to present its report in the House. Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah supported the views of Yousaf Talpur and said that the PPP always protected and worked for the rights of the minorities.
MNA Lal Chand of the PTI said that the Committee should also find the facts behind kidnapping and forcefully changing the religion of Hindu girls after kidnapping. Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that federal government would take up the matter with the Sindh Government though it is a provincial issue.
He said, “These are shameful incidents which have badly damaged the image of the country.” Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi said that the government and opposition should give names to be made a part of the committee as members and settle the terms and references. The House also discussed the incident in which 43 people lost their due to huge waves of Arabian Sea on the beaches of Karachi.
Earlier, Responding to a call attention notice, Minister for Science and Technology, Zahid Hamid said the government has authorised Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority to take a legal action against the elements involved in the sale of hazardous water because of rising demand of bottled water.