KARACHI: The Sindh Asse­mbly was on Monday informed that the route of Orange Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service, the 3.9-kilometre-long track built by the provincial government, was being redesigned to integrate it with the Green Line BRT for the convenience of people.

Responding to a call attention notice given by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s lawmaker from Orangi Town Ali Khurshidi, Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that certain aspects had not been taken into account when the route of Orange Line was designed.

“Now the route is being redesigned to integrate the two bus services,” he said and adding that the operating company had been given directions in the regard.

The MQM- P lawmaker pointed out that the Orange Line bus service had failed to attract passengers due to its unpopular route resulting in a high running cost.

“People of Orangi Town show no or low interest in the project,” he said adding that only four to five buses, out of total 20 sanctioned buses, were operating on the route.

He pointed out that the passengers of the Orange Line had to walk up to 800 meters to catch Green Line that also posed risk of mugging.

MPA Ali Khurshidi calls for extending route of bus service; MMA lawmaker beaten up by staff of Lyari General Hospital

Mr Khurshidi asked the transport minister to extend the route of Orange Line to the interior parts of Orangi Town.

The minister said that the provincial government was working day and night to provide the best transport facility to the people of the province. “Peoples Bus Service is starting across the province and work is under way on important routes,” he added.

Responding to a call attention notice moved by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MPA Malik Shehzad Awan, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla said that Imran Afridi, a member of the oil tankers association, would be recovered within three days as important clues were found.

The PTI MPA said that Afridi had been kidnapped 10 days ago in Kashmore and his captors had demanded Rs20 million ransom for his release.

He recalled that another transporter, Adnan, had been kidnapped in Kashmore one month ago and later he was killed by the kidnappers even after receiving ransom money.

Manhandling of MPA condemned

The provincial assembly condemned torture and manhandling of Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal lawmaker Syed Abdul Rasheed allegedly by the staff of the Lyari General Hospital.

The MMA lawmaker reached the assembly with torn clothes and said that he went to the hospital where ‘armed gangsters’ manhandled and detained him for two hours.

“There were goons roaming in the hospital but instead of expelling them, the management asked me to leave,” he added.

He said that he was beaten and abused by the staff of the hospital in the presence of a heavy contingent of police and Rangers.

He said that he was elected MPA from Lyari and would continue raising his voice, if his constituents did not get medical facilities. He said that Lyari General Hospital was built for treatment of the people and it was not a place for gangsters.

The MMA lawmaker was also allowed by Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani to table a privilege motion on the incident as the treasury also supported the same.

He demanded that strict action be taken against those who tortured him.

Minister Chawla asked him to lodge an FIR against the staff involved in the incident, assuring him that strict action would be taken against the attackers.

The speaker also expressed regret over the incident.

The MPA submitted a privilege motion, which was later sent to the house’s special select committee.

The parliamentary minister said that a special committee had already been formed and its meeting would be called to look into the matter.

Discussion on law and order sought

Leader of the Opposition Haleem Adil Sheikh on a point of order demanded that a thorough discussion be held on ‘deteriorated’ law and order situation in the province, particularly Karachi.

He also referred to killings of two young men recently by robbers over resistance and took a jibe on the Karachi police chief for asking the citizens ‘not to offer resistance’.

He said that 21-year-old Bilal who was NED University of Engineering and Technology student and 22-year-old Azhar were shot dead when they put up resistance to robbers.

“Our people are being killed and the additional IG asks not to offer resistance to robbers,” he jibed.

The opposition leader said 100 citizens in Karachi had been killed in last eight months while over 82,000 street crimes had also been registered.

He was of the view that dacoits were roaming freely in Karachi while kidnapping cases were on the rise in interior parts of the province. “The law and order situation should be discussed on the floor of the house,” he demanded.

Speaker Durrani said that a day might be fixed for the discussion on the matter, after consulting with the chief minister, who also holds the portfolio of home department.

Legislation

Meanwhile, the house passed The Sindh Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and the Sindh Digital Technology Board Bill, 2022.

The Sindh Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Management Bill, 2022 was also introduced and referred to standing committee concerned.

Speaking on the amendments, Special Assistant to Chief Minister for Human Rights Surendar Valasai said that the amendment bill would serve as an effective mechanism to safeguard the human rights of citizens without any discrimination.

The house also deferred the discussion on an adjournment motion of PPP MPA Sharmila Faruqui regarding measures required to improve literacy rate in the country after the treasury and opposition members agreed to speak on the motion on Tuesday when no other business would be taken up.

Later, the house was adjourned to Tuesday (today).

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2022