And implementation of NAP
The statement by the ISPR regarding Bacha Khan University attackers having been identified would provide comfort to few. This is what people were told soon after the APS attack also. What the affected families and the common man want is not the names of the killers or where they are sheltering or what root they took to commit the crime, but why the agencies failed to pre-empt these attacks. No blame game or conspiracy theory can exonerate those entrusted the task of safeguarding the nation from the enemies’ attacks when they are found napping.
Two senior parliamentarians including Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Defence Minister Kh Asif reminded the National Assembly that the wave of terrorism sweeping the country is partially of “our own making”. They have both referred to Ziaul Haq and Musharraf creating and launching the terrorists in Afghanistan. Did the activity cease after Zia or for that matter after Muharraf? What explains lack of action against the self-confessed supporters of Daesh? How come a number of banned groups continue to be active under new names? Why have the agencies looked the other way when the banned groups’ leaders issued provocative statements inciting people to resort to violence against other countries?
More than a year after the national consensus on NAP, most of its provisions remain unimplemented. It was pointed out during the discussion in Senate that the state still considered some Taliban as its ‘assets’ and that NAP had in fact turned by the PML-N into a plan against Sindh while no action was taken in Punjab where three big names of terrorism were based.
The Senate has unanimously demanded a parliamentary oversight committee to monitor the efforts of the federal and provincial governments as well as agencies concerned vis a vis the implementation of NAP. Being a sensible suggestion supported by both the opposition and the treasury benches, the proposal needs to be accepted. This would hopefully bring the much needed transparency to the working of the Interior Ministry.