Senators concerned over terrorism in Balochistan

Senators on Sunday expressed strong concerns over incidents of terrorism in Quetta, and passed a unanimous resolution condemning terrorist attacks in the province on Saturday.
The Senate resumed debate, headed by Senate chief Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, on the federal budget as well as expressing concerns over the recent tragic incidents in Quetta that resulted in loss of many innocent lives.
Participating in the debate‚ Senator Farhatullah Babar said terrorist strikes on a female students’ bus, Bolan Medical College and Quaide Azam’s residency was in fact an attack on the past and future of the nation.
He said long-term reforms in the province of Balochistan were required and condemned the missing persons issue and recovery of mutilated dead bodies, adding that some forces were not in favour of a political settlement.
Babar was of the view that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) needed to give a conceptual framework for strengthening the economy, adding that without curbing militancy and terrorism, economic growth and investment was impossible.
Talking on the energy crisis‚ he said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) would cooperate with the government to address the issue.
Babar said that no relief was given to the poor people. “It is the prime responsibility of the political leadership to take steps and devise frameworks to generate more and more revenue,” he said.
He said around 125 percent increase in salaries of government employees was made during the five-year tenure of PPP despite financial constraints.
The country’s remittances witnessed significant increase from $ 7 billion to $ 14 billion owing to incentives given to overseas Pakistanis, he added.
He said growth in investment was directly linked with maintenance of peace and tranquility in the country.
“The finance minister’s speech failed to address the law and order situation in KP, Balochistan and Karachi,” he said.
Urging establishing a balance between the civil society and military forces, Babar stressed the PML-N to establish a constitutional court, which he said was an important point in the Charter of Democracy.
Babar praised the government for its resolve to end circular debt within 60 days and allocation of Rs 225 billion to cope with energy crisis.
However, he said circular debt would emerge again as there was a difference between generation and sale price of electricity per unit.
Raza Rabbani, PPP’s parliamentary leader in Senate, termed terrorist strikes in Balochistan as a conspiracy against the provincial government of Balochistan.
He said whenever talks emerged to redress the Balochistan issue through peaceful dialogue; such incidents appeared in an attempt to destroy any progress.
On a point of order by Raza Rabbani‚ Raja Zafarul Haq said Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan was in Balochistan to get first-hand information on the attacks.
Elaborating, he said, on his return‚ the interior minister will take the House into confidence on government’s measures to restore peace in Balochistan.
Hidayatullah demanded to restore tax immunity for FATA and release of seven to eight billion rupees for reconstruction of schools destroyed by militants in the area.
He pointed out that only Rs 18 billion was allocated for Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in the budget.
Saeedul Hassan Mandokhel said one percent increase in GST will affect the poor people. He urged the finance minister to pay attention to Afghan Transit Trade to boost revenue collection instead of increasing GST.
He said an increase in GST was also proposed by the previous government but on demand of the then opposition (PML-N), the decision was taken back.
Malik Muhammad Rafiq Rajwana appreciated the positive initiatives taken by the PML-N government to provide relief to the common man.
Senator Abbas Khan Afridi criticised government’s steps to eliminate tax immunity for FATA. He urged the government to allocate funds for rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from tribal regions.
Muhammad Hamza appreciated the government’s initiatives to rid circular debt. He stressed the need for checking line losses and recovery of electricity bills.
Earlier, PML-N Senator Begum Nuzhat Sadiq tabled a resolution condemning terrorist strikes in Quetta and Ziarat and killing of female students. The resolution was unanimously adopted and passed by the Upper House of Parliament.
She said, “We condemn the terrorist attacks in Quetta and express sympathy with the bereaved families and pray to the Almighty for eternal peace of the departed souls.”