Opposition in the Sindh Assembly on Monday termed the police a 'sign of terror' and sought reforms for the law enforcers to ensure protection to the citizens, besides paying tribute to Nimra Baig, a medical student died of mysterious gunshot. Debating two similar resolutions tabled by the ruling PPP and the opposition party MQM on the killing of a young medical student Nimra Baig last week in the city, as legislators also sought a financial aid from the government to her family. The first resolution in this regard came from PPP's Heer Ismail Soho and the second by MQM's Waseem Qureshi.

Firdous Shamim Naqvi, opposition leader in the house belonging to the PTI, asked the government to reform the police department on the modern lines as only criticising the law enforcers will not yield any benefits to the society. He showed concerns that the city is going through a law and order situation.

Sindh Local Government Minister, Saeed Ghani appreciated the opposition leader for his recommendations to improve the police demeanour and services, which he termed 'practical' for implementation. He said that the government has no role in recruiting the police officials as the province appoints law enforcers as per the Apex Committee directives. He said that Sindh stands exempt in controlling police unlike other provinces.

He said that the government is answerable to the parliament on the wrong doing of police despite it has no control over its operations. However, he said that those policemen are doing better jobs should also be appreciated.

"There is an ample space for reforms in the police," Saeed Ghani said.

MQM's Khawaja Izhar-ul-Hassan said that Nimra killing is the second such incident happened recently after Amal Omar. He called it police 'negligence' that took another life in the city. He asked the government to form a committee to probe the incident.

PTI's Khurrum Sher Zaman Khan held the Sindh government responsible for the Nimra Baig killing, saying that the situation is worsening with no relief in sight for the public from such incident. He said that the Sindh government does not seem 'serious' to step up its efforts to stem the lawlessness, despite passing the Amal Omer law in the house on the similar kind of incident.

GDA's Nusrat Sehar Abbasi slammed the police for its 'unruly' attitude to kill people. She showed worries over the killing incidents taking place one after another. She proposed the government to confer the honorary degree upon Nimra Baig after her demise. She said that the Sindh government should review its way of governance before it is too late. PPP's Shehla Raza called it a 'big' incident. Several other legislators also spoke on the topic. Latter the house adopted both the resolutions, as it will now meet on Tuesday morning at 10 am.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019