The disclosure about the presence of Norwegian intelligence operatives in Pakistan resounded in the Senate on Friday as Parliamentary Committee on National Security Chairman Raza Rabbani described the presence of operatives of spying agencies from a number of countries in Pakistan as “unusual”.
Speaking on a point of order in the Upper House of parliament, Rabbani asked the government to explain if it was on a reciprocal basis or otherwise. He said he was surprised to learn that spy operatives from a number of countries were present in Pakistan. However, responding to his concerns, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said it was for the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to keep an eye on foreign spies. He said since both of the organisations were under the control of the prime minister, he would get information and share it with the House. He said further that Norwegian agents were operating in Pakistan without the government’s permission.
He also told the House that some operatives of foreign spying agencies, including several nationals of Scandinavian countries, had been arrested from Balochistan, but shared no further details. He said vigilance in the province had been increased to curb the movement of foreign nationals, adding that a special squad had been deployed to Dera Ghazi Khan and Dera Ismail Khan on the way leading to Balochistan. He said no foreign national could move towards these areas without prior approval of the government. According to the Order of the Day, the law minister was to move “The Delimitation of Constituencies (Amendment) Bill of 2011” to amend the Delimitation of Constituencies Act of 1974, already passed by the National Assembly with certain amendments, but the bill instead had to be referred to the committee concerned after the Leader of the House Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari pointed out a flaw in it.
At the very outset of the proceedings, Senate Chairman Farooq Naek expressed his anger over the absence of the ministers concerned from the House, saying this had become a routine practice. This also prompted a treasury senator to point out that after the 18th Amendment, it was mandatory for the ministers to be present during the Senate and National Assembly sessions.
The chairman adjourned the House for 15 minutes, saying he would give a ruling if the ministers did not come. However, three ministers were present in the House when it met after the short break. The sitting was marked by low attendance, with only eight senators present when the proceedings began and 28 present when the House adjourned.
Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Chairman Senator Muhammad Kazim Khan presented a report on the Special Economic Zones Bill of 2010. Standing Committee on Water and Power Chairman Senator Mir Lashkari Raisani also presented a report of the committee on “The Private Power and Infrastructure Board Bill of 2011”.
Rabbani seeks explanation for presence of foreign spies in Pakistan
