Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday wrote a letter to the heads of all political parties and sought their proposals, if any, to improve the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance 2013 and sought their support to get the bill passed from parliament.
The ordinance was promulgated on October 20 by the president on advice of the PM for an immediate and strict action to be ensured against the terrorists, terming them ‘enemies of the state’. However, the government would have to get the legislation passed from both houses of the parliament to turn it into a law. The ordinance authorised joint probe teams, consisting of security agencies and law enforcers, to be tasked to investigate the matters relating to terrorism and crimes.
Though the PML-N and its allied parties have the required strength to get the legislation passed from the National Assembly, but it lacks the required support in the Senate where opposition parties have a majority.
In his letter, a text of which is available with Pakistan Today, the premier put blame of the spread of militancy and terrorism in across the country to the successive dictatorial regimes and erosion of the state writ and authority.
“As you are aware, we have been elected to the parliament by the people of Pakistan with the hope to end the extended regime of terror unleashed since the adoption of post 9/11 policies. Decades of dictatorial regime and mis-governance have resulted in complete erosion of state writ and authority,” the letter stated.
Nawaz also referred to the safe havens of terrorists in urban and rural centers of the country.
“Apart from the remote areas, safe havens in urban centres and towns have also become a cause of serious concern. Coupled with the failure of law enforcement agencies responsible for internal security and prosecution of crime, due to a variety of reasons, we are currently facing a situation where life and property of the people is in grave danger. On the other hand, the organized mafia is roaming free due to legal vacuum created by constant tampering with different legislations over an extended period of time. Resultantly the socio-economic fabric of our society as well as the age old value system binding this nation is in danger of disintegration,” the premier added.
He added that it was in this context and with a view to the potential unfolding events in post 2014 Afghanistan that the federal government considered it imperative to put in place a legal mechanism for intervention to protect the right and liberty of the common man as well as the sovereignty and integrity of the state of Pakistan.
“A team of legal and security experts have worked diligently to ensure that the new law is in complete consonance with the constitution of Pakistan. I am enclosing a copy of the ‘Protection of Pakistan Ordinance 2013’, which is being promulgated with a view to give a strong message to the organized crime and anti-state elements regarding the will and determination of the state and the people of Pakistan to face and eliminate all challenges to sovereignty and integrity of this country.”
The PM expressed optimism that the political leaders would give it a reading and support the government in the passage of the ordinance.
Nawaz seeks support of politicians to improve ordinance
