KARACHI, Nov 12: In continuation of their protest against the proposed levying of a flood tax, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmakers staged another walkout from the Sindh Assembly session on Friday.

The MQM legislators had on Thursday also staged a walkout over the controversial issue of flood tax.

The house, which was called to order by Speaker Nisar Ahmad Khuhro, offered Fateha for those killed in the Thursday terror attack at a CID police building in Civil Lines. Soon after Fateha, the MQM lawmakers left the house in protest against the flood tax.

However, they returned to the house after over half an hour when they were persuaded by the Pakistan People’s Party ministers Rafique Engineer and Zahid Bhurgari who assured the MQM lawmakers that they would be taken into confidence before imposition of the flood tax.

When the MQM legislators returned to the assembly hall, they were greeted by thumping of desks.

After completion of the agenda, the chair allowed Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Jam Madad Ali to move a motion which was submitted with the signatures of MQM’s Faisal Subzwari, National People’s Party’s Arif Mustafa Jatoi and Pakistan Muslim League (Q) lawmaker Shaharyar Khan.

The motion reads: “This assembly strongly condemns the cowardly attack on CID /Police Headquarter in Karachi. This was an attack on the sovereignty of the nation by anti-Pakistan forces. This is now the time for the entire nation to stand united to face the evil of terrorism which is threatening the unity and integrity of Pakistan. The Sindh Assembly joins the entire country in praying for the souls of the brave Shaheed officials of the Sindh Police, FC and innocent civilians killed in this attack. This sacrifice will always be remembered by a grateful Nation.”

Home Minister Dr Zulfikar Mirza paid tribute to the personnel of the Sindh police and the Frontier Constabulary for fighting against terrorists with valour and bravery.

He spoke against the terrorists as well as a section of private news channels for misreporting the figures of dead and wounded.

“What system they [news channels] have evolved which informed them about the quantity of the explosives used in the blast, make and number of the engine before the police, the CID, the ISI and other law-enforcement agencies.”

He said he was happy that the terrorists had accepted his challenge, although partially, to launch attacks from the front instead of attacking oppressed and peace-loving people.

He accused the media of scaring the people and vowed to sue them in a court of law.

Earlier, Jam Madad Ali said that those involved in terrorists activities were enemies of Pakistan. He paid tribute to the armed forces, the police and other law-enforcement agencies for fighting against the menace of terrorism in the country.

Faisal Subzwari termed the Thursday blast a big tragedy in the country’s history and assured the government that all people and parties were backing the government’s effort in countering terrorism.

After the motion was carried, the session was adjourned to meet on Monday at 10am.