Senators on Monday grilled the delayed response by the police, rangers, fire brigade and other law-enforcement agencies to the Abbas Town bombing.
They demanded that the government make decisions to curb terrorism and sectarianism. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the Awami National Party (ANP) legislators staged a walkout from the Senate sitting.
The session opened under the chairmanship of PML-N Senator Zafar Ali Shah. He said the government had completely failed in maintaining law and order. He also said the bombing in Abbas Town was not a new incident, as many such incidents had occurred in which Shias were targeted. He added that the government was unable to curb terrorism and extremism.
The bombing, Shah said, had not only reflected the helplessness of the government but also portrayed its complete failure.
The senators also prayed for the bombing victims. The prayers were led by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haideri. Haideri said that the innocent people were being targeted across the country.
MQM Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said the country’s economic hub was on the target, adding that the government was doing nothing to eliminate the terrorists.
The MQM staged a walkout over the issue. JUI-F Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haideri also staged a walkout on Shia killing and imposition of the governor’s rule in Balochistan.
ANP Senator Abdul Nabi Bangash condemned the Karachi bombing. The ANP senators also staged a walkout from the session over the Karachi incident and non-supply of gas to Hangu and Tall districts.
PML-N Senator Mushahidullah Khan said issuing statements, delivering strong speeches and staging walkouts after such incidents had become business of the House whereas the House was unable to do something solid.
Senator Suraiya Amiruddin questioned the delayed response by the police, rangers, bomb disposal squad and other law- enforcement agencies.
PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar criticised Interior Minister Rehman Malik for issuing merely statements. He also demanded the joint briefing to the House over these incidents.
Mohsin Leghari and Muhammad Hamza pointed out that a majority of members were now presenting their issues on point of orders as their adjournment motions were not taken seriously.
Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo disclosed that every community in Karachi had set up own courts as the government had failed in provide security and justice. He condemned the Karachi incident and questioned the delayed response by the law-enforcement agencies.
MQM Senator Farogh Naseem suggested introducing the local policing to control the incidents of terrorism, adding that a majority of countries were following this concept.
Senator Muzafar Ali Shah demanded the formation of a committee to probe the delayed response by the police and law-enforcement agencies. He said that such incidents would affect the coming polls.
The Senate chairman summoned a report on the delayed response.
Earlier, reporters also staged a walkout from the press gallery on nonpayment of salaries and other dues to journalists working for APP, the state-run news agency.
PPP Senator Raza Rabbani said Karachi, KP and Quetta incidents were part of an international conspiracy against Pakistan as the country was trying to make its foreign policy independent. He termed the incidents in line with the Gwadar Port and Iran-Pak gas pipeline projects, saying that the institutions should also avoid dual policies and should counter such incidents.
Urging the government to implement the joint parliamentary resolution, Rabbani stressed the country’s political leadership to be on same page against terrorists.
The session was adjourned until today (Tuesday) morning.
