The PTI's legislator on Tuesday disputed the MQM's resolution that demanded of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for an action against 'illegal' arms and ammunition manufacturing factories, saying that "illegal weapons were continuously recovering from a party, which is a matter of concerns".

The resolution tabled by MQM's Kamran Akhtar, which sailed through the house unanimously during the Sindh Assembly's private day sitting, asked the provincial government to approach the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to take action against the illegal weapons producing factories.

PTI's legislator, Khurrum Sher Zaman Khan objected to the resolution content, asking the mover to identify the places where illegal weapons were being developed. He said that illegal weapons were being recovered from a political party, which was a matter of fears.

He contested the resolution, saying that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was unnecessarily held responsible for weapons smuggling that were used in creating unrest in the metropolis. "Everyone knows that from which party illegal weapons were being recovered". His remarks, immediately stirred up a protest by the MQM lawmakers.

The resolution mover was of the view that the Sindh government should approach Islamabad to ask the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to eliminate the weapons factories. He said that despite the law enforcers had seized huge arms catches during military operations, the smuggled illegal weapons still continued to reach the city.

On the resolution, Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah defended his provincial government, saying that "the Sindh government is taking stern steps to end the illegal weapons in the province". He said that deliberations were made in the last apex committee meeting in this regard. The provincial government had already dispatched a request to the federal government in this connection.

He claimed that the law enforcers had recovered some 900 illegal weapons in the city of which 750 were manufactured in 'Dara Adam Khel'. He said that his government willed to ensure a safe province free of weapons. "These factories should manufacture weapons to meet the security forces needs and should not fall into the public hands," he said and supported the MQM's resolution.

On census, Sindh Senior Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Nisar Khuhro said that the population counting that was set to being from March 15, 2017 had a great significance for the future. He urged the political parties to support the census process, saying that the Sindh government was aware of its responsibilities while debating a resolution by MQM's lady legislator, Naheed Begum.

He said that some 30 percent of the population in Sindh did not have the national identity card that was a prerequisite to the census. He said that the Sindh's future rested on the population data. He told the house that the provincial government was given ten days for taking the census.

The mover asked the provincial government to start awareness drive for women on the census. She feared the coming population would be no less than a challenge for the authorities. She said that the country had 50 percent of its total population but 11 million of them were still not enrolled to voting list. This resolution was also passed with four others. The house is meeting today's morning at 10am.

-Business Recorder