Senators decry Shia killings, poor law and order

With a treasury member contending that a conspiracy was being hatched to separate Balochistan from Pakistan and another government legislator terming the Kamra airbase attack a “complete security failure”, members of the Upper House on Monday expressed grave concern over the deteriorating law and order across the country, especially targeted killings of Shia Muslims in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan and the killing spree underway in Karachi.
A Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) member, however, remained busy driving home the loyalty of his party’s chief to the country.
Speaking on points of order, the members from both sides of the political divide called for debating the issue thoroughly and called for solid measures to address the law and order issue permanently, as innocent people were being targeted by killers and criminals. They also demanded the government to take pragmatic and concrete steps to curb the menace.
Taking part in the debate, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo of the National Party contended that targeted killings in the country, particularly in Balochistan, were a matter of grave concern and the House should specify a proper time for debating it thoroughly. He said innocent people were regularly being targeted in Quetta, Karachi and Gilgit-Baltistan. Bizenjo said there was no doubt that the resolution moved by Farhatullah Babar regarding ratifying the international convention for protection of all people from enforced disappearance was very important, but the targeted killings could not be neglected.
He suggested Babar to allow the senators to discuss the targeted killing issue on priority. Speaking on a point of order, Senator Sehr Kamran called the terror attack on Kamra Airbase a complete security failure, adding that proper security arrangements should have been adopted in wake of intelligence information of a possible attack on the base. She said security arrangements around Kamra base were not up to the mark and the entire area should have been declared a “red zone” in wake of the information about a possible attack on the base.
She said the provision of identity cards should have been declared a must for entering the entire area and its surroundings to avoid infiltration. She added that there was no transparency in the functioning of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and all record of the authority should have been scrutinized.
Alyas Bilour contended that a conspiracy was being hatched to separate Balochistan province from Pakistan and contended that the true rulers of the country were not interested in keeping the country intact. He alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to pitch people against each other on lingual basis, adding that the recent statement by MQM leader Altaf Hussain about Balochistan was also part of the alleged plan. But Col (r) Tahir Hussain Mashhadi countered the allegations of Bilour, calling for expunging remarks against the MQM chief. He said Altaf had made a historic speech as he had the vision to keep the country intact.
He said the MQM leader had expressed concern about law and order in Balochistan, as he wanted a strong and thriving Pakistan. He said those who had created Pakistan could never think of disintegrating it. Mashhadi said law and order was a complex issue as it related to the country’s integrity and unity and must be debated in the House. He said every party should give its input and suggest concrete solution to this chronic problem.
However, he also requested the chair to ensure presence of the interior minister during the debate.
Rafiq Rajwana said the interior minister should not just take notice of the incidents but prompt action should be visible in this regard.
He said the government should come up with permanent solution to the issue.
Raja Zafarul Haq was of the view that it was a matter of the country’s survival and innocent people were being targeted everyday. Mohammad Hamza said only people of a particular sect were being targeted and killed, which earned the country a bad name.
Kalsoom Parveen said around 150 people were targeted in the past two months and suggested that a threadbare discussion should be held in the House. She was of the view that only three hours would not be sufficient to debate the issue.
Maulana Mohammad Khan Sherani said maintenance of law and order was an important public issue and alleged that it was being worsened under a pre-planned strategy.
He said the issue should be discussed at least for a week and the presence of interior, defense and foreign ministers should be ensured during the debate.
Kamil Ali Agha said the law and order situation was critical and that foreign hands were involved in deteriorating the country’s order.
Meanwhile, the treasury and opposition benches in the Upper House agreed to fix Thursday and Friday for debating the law and order situation across the country with Interior Minister Rehman Malik making a winding up speech on Friday.
The decision was made following a consensus between both sides and Senate Chairman Nayyer Hussain Bokhari asked the interior minister to be available on Friday to wind up the debate.
Bokhari also expressed displeasure over the absence of the ministers and officers of the concerned ministries whose business was on the agenda and directed Leader of the House Senator Jahangir Badr to ensure that the concerned ministers and officers remained present in the House.
Malik assured the House of his presence on Friday and said he would cover all aspects debated in the house vis-à-vis law and order.
The House also decided to debate the hike in petroleum prices on Wednesday.
Haji Ghulam Ali criticized the performance of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and contended that there were malpractices being committed in the board that needed to be addressed.
Tahir Mashhadi called for provision of houses to low-paid government employees who were serving the country with best of their abilities.
He called for evolving a poor-friendly housing policy and urged the government to construct small houses for the poor who could not afford hiring houses in the federal capital where living was very costly.
He also moved a motion for provision of housing facilities to the poor, but no other member debated the motion and the Senate chairman declared that the motion had been talked out.