Lawmakers want strategy to eliminate terrorism

ISLAMABAD

Lawmakers on Thursday said all parties should sit together and formulate a strategy to eliminate terrorism from the country.
Speaking on the motion moved by Science and Technology Minister Zahid Hamid, MNA Obaidullah Shadikhel said that parliamentary leaders should sit in a committee and give suggestions to root out terrorism.
Shazia Marri said national security was an important issue in present situation. She was of the opinion that there should be a helpline in the country for quick emergency response.
She said due to privatization, unemployment would increase in the country.
JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman said terrorism was started in 2001 when the dictator of that time had supported foreign powers in Afghanistan war. He said Pakistan had born a loss of $80 billion while its 70,000 citizens were killed since 2001 to date in this war on terror, adding that now the country could not bear further loss.
He said the religious parties and institutions always played a vital role to protect the country in every difficult time. He demanded that there should be a uniform syllabus in the country.
Participating in the discussion on National Internal Security Policy, Arif Alvi stressed for giving timeline of restructuring of seminaries. Reforms must also be introduced in the country’s policing system, he added.
In case of operation, collateral damage should be kept at minimum level, he said.
He said the Interior Ministry has been overburdened by assigning too many tasks in implementing the security policy, he added.
He lamented reported killings of 38 people in Tharparkar due to non-availability of food. Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said the country was confronted with multiple problems and parliament should be taken into confidence for implementing the policies.
“Charter of Democracy has proved to be barter of democracy,” he added.
SA Iqbal Qadri said that stern action should be taken against terrorists as the time of formulating policies have passed. He said the main reason for unrest in the country was the lack of implementation of rules and laws.
He said the government should decide to take stern action against terrorists as it is responsibility of the state to protect lives and properties of the people.
Ejazul Haq lauded the security policy and called for further improving the functioning of 33 intelligence agencies to protect the people.
He said some world powers have vested interests in destabilizing the country. Steps should be taken to end sense of deprivation among the people of Federally Administered Tribal Areas, he added.