Federal minister Abdul Qadir Baloch on Friday assured the National Assembly (NA) that the Balochistan High Court (BHC) chief justice would investigate the discovery of mass graves.
Lawmaker Aalia Kamran said on a point of order that the bodies discovered from a mass grave in Balochistan had sparked concern. The government has so far not explained the matter. A committee should be formed to probe the matter, she demanded.
Baloch said the deputy commissioner rushed to the scene and the bodies were exhumed. According to officials, there were 13 bodies. Allegations have been levelled against insurgents and institutions but the matter is shrouded in mystery.
He assured the House that an inquiry would be conducted in this regard. The BHC CJ will be requested to take notice of the matter, he said.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Shafqat Mehmood said resignation of the State Bank of Pakistan’s governor was a highly exceptional matter. Earlier, the NADRA chairman was sent home through intimidation. The SBP is an autonomous institution and attempts were being made to influence it.
The reports for removing the PCB chairman were also circulating. “We record our protest over it. Tell the House Ishaq Dar was harassing the governor State Bank or pressure was being mounted on him to print new currency notes,” he said.
PTI’s Asad Umar said, “We accept government challenge on the matter of printing of currency notes. We will present evidence in this regard in the House on Monday.”
If the government does not review its policies the way it is running them then economy will receive a fatal blow, he cautioned.
In a written reply‚ Industries Minister Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi told the House that a PC-I has been prepared for opening of another 1,000 utility stores throughout the country. He said 6,000 utility outlets were operating in the country presently.
Parliamentary Secretary for National Food Security Rajab Ali Baloch said that efforts were being made to build better storage facilities to avoid wastage of grains‚ vegetables‚ and fruits.
On a call attention notice of Khalida Mansoor‚ Minister of State for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarrar said a committee having representation from the four provinces has been formed to give guidelines to the federating units to check hepatitis.
To another call attention notice moved by Munaza Hassan and others‚ Inter-provincial Coordination Minister Riaz Pirzada, on behalf of the textile minister, told the House that there were plans to set up industrial waste water treatment plants in the country and land in this regard has also been identified.
Meanwhile‚ Standing Committee on Interior Rana Shamim Ahmad presented before the House reports of the committee on the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2013 (Ordinance No VII of 2013), the Anti-terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2013 (Ordinance No VIII of 2013) and Protection of Pakistan Bill 2013.
The House will meet again on Monday at 4pm.
Govt assures NA it will probe mass graves incident
