Glowing tribute paid to Soran Singh in KP Assembly

Members vow to block entry of Baldev Kumar as MPA

PESHAWAR: Paying glowing tributes to the slain special assistant to the chief minister on minorities’ affairs Sardar Soran Singh, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly members on Friday asked the speaker and deputy speaker not to administer oath to Baldev Kumar, the prime accused in the murder case.

The assembly unanimously passed a resolution asking the government to announce a special package for the family of the slain Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader. After recitation from the Holy Quran, Speaker Asad Qaiser declared the session a condolence reference to pay homage to Soran Singh.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak while taking the floor said the murder of Soran Singh had put the government and the assembly in a fix as how to block the entry of an alleged killer into the House.

He said Baldev Kumar was no more a PTI activist and said the government would move the court of law to get the notification of Baldev Kumar’s membership put on hold till the final verdict in the murder case.

It may be mentioned here that Baldev Kumar was second to Soran Singh in the list of reserved seats and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has declared him as MPA on the seat that fell vacant after the death of Soran Singh.

The chief minister said the family of Soran Singh would be given a special package. Condemning the murder of Soran Singh, he said the accused separated a sincere colleague from the assembly members for the sake of getting the MPA’s seat.

Earlier, Nighat Orakzai of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) said she didn’t know that Soran Singh, who was an active member of the House, belonged to a humble family. She said she was astonished by the fact that the slain PTI leader was residing in a small rented house having two rooms only. Giving an emotional speech, she said it was unbelievable that the man who served as special assistant for about three years didn’t make his fortune and lived a simple life.

Minister for Public Health Engineering Shah Farman said the family of Soran Singh wanted to migrate to India due to the poor law and order and militancy in Buner, but he refused to leave the country showing his love and patriotism.

He said the PTI would not accept Baldev Kumar as its Member Provincial Assembly (MPA).  Uzma Khan of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) said it was so ironic that the life of a human being was taken for the sake of becoming an MPA.

Minister for Auqaf and Religious Affair Habibur Rehman lauded the services of the Soran Singh and said he was a man of principles. He said he remained affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami for about 12 years and was a dedicated worker.

Bakht Baidar of Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) said that Soran Singh was a role model for the members who used to ride a motorbike in his area despite being special assistant to chief minister.

He said that he even didn’t avail government security. Mufti Fazal Ghafoor of JUI-F also paid tributes to Soran Singh and said he was not only an asset to the PTI, but also for the whole Buner.

However, he questioned the law and order situation in Buner and said Soran Singh was killed at a short distance from Pir Baba Police Station. Dr Haider Ali of PTI called for amendment to the Public Representation Act and said it was wrong to declare a runner-up as MPA after the death of a member elected on reserved seat.

Deputy Speaker Dr Mehr Taj Roghani, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz parliamentary leader, Sardar Aurangzeb Nalotha, PPP’s Salim Khan, JUI-F Munawar Khan and Senior Minister Inayatullah also lauded the services of Sardar Soran Singh and recalled the memories of days they spent in his association.

The House observed one minute silence as a sign of respect for the deceased besides lighting a candle and placing flowers on his seat.The speaker adjourned the session till Monday at 3pm.