ISLAMABAD – The National Assembly was Thursday informed that situation in Balochistan was not in government’s complete control as some secret hands were at play to create unrest in the province.
During the Question-Hour session, Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, Senator Raza Rabbani said that some hidden players were fueling insurgency in Balochistan; therefore, the intelligence agencies could not be blamed.
Responding to question raised by MNA Usman Khan, he said that the use of term extra-judicial killing was not appropriate as the matter was sensitive. He said that national security agencies must work within the parameter of law. For the recovery of missing person, the minister said, a tribunal had been working conceding that there had been no significant outcome in that regard.
He said Balochistan’s situation is sensitive and multi-dimensional adding that the government in collaboration with its agencies was cracking down on those behind killing and kidnapping cases in Balochistan. Meanwhile, the house was told that Federal Ministry for Human Rights (HR) had no mechanism to entertain complaints of aggrieved people.
Responding to a question by MNA Iabal Muhammad Khan, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar told that inquiry report about the Lahore stowaway incident involving a boy’s death in fall from a plane was yet to be completed. He said initial reports revealed that six boys had attempted to travel abroad in similar fashion but failed.
Mukhtar informed that Pakistan Aeronautical Authority (PAA) had negotiated 13 Air Services Agreements (ASAs) with various countries during last five years. In reply to another question, he said that that the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) had suffered a loss of Rs. 79.81 billion in last five years.
In his written reply, Minister for Communication Arbab Alamgir Khan told the house that flash flood washed away as many as 46 bridges on national highways network and damaged partially and completely 793 kilometers length of various sections of 20 highways and motorways.
Reply to another question, he said that the electronic system on toll plazas was out of service that’s why commuters have to wait in long queues. He said that NHA has planned to install Electronic Toll& Traffic Management (ETTM) system on NHA (5) in phases.
Meanwhile, Speaker Dr. Fehmida Mirza advised the Ministry of Environment to launch a comprehensive campaign across the country against the use of polythene bags.
