–Sahiwal case to be pursued until justice is provided to affected families, says Rehman Malik
–NADRA urged to facilitate Pashtun citizens
ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Friday rejected the statement of Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Twitter targeting Pakistan, saying it was a factually baseless and gross interference in the country’s internal affairs.
On Thursday, Ghani tweeted, “The Afghan government has serious concerns about the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.”
The meeting chaired by Senator Abdul Rehman Malik unanimously passed a resolution and termed the statement as “irresponsible and anti-Pakistan.”
The meeting was also attended by senators Javed Abbasi, Muhammad Azam Khan Swati and Yaqoob Khan Nasar, interior secretary, National Database and Registration Authority chairman and representatives of religious affairs, law ministries, Federal Investigation Agency and Civil Aviation Authority.
The Afghan government has serious concerns about the violence perpetrated against peaceful protestors and civil activists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
— Ashraf Ghani (@ashrafghani) February 7, 2019
The resolution said Pakistan is passing through serious security threats as terrorist groups are being sponsored and energised from the other side of the border.
Pakistan persistently and with full sincerity has been supporting Afghanistan in their most difficult movements and hosting more than three million Afghanis since last three decades, it added.
The present role of Pakistan in the peace process is being recognised internationally, the resolution said, whereas the tweet of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is a clear interference in the internal affairs and it is self-confession of President Ghani in promoting violence in Pakistan.
The committee called upon the government to register a serious protest with Afghanistan and demand President Ashraf Ghani to withdraw his irresponsible statement immediately.
Earlier, the committee expressed condolence over the death of sister of Senator Abdul Rehman Malik and offered fateha for the departed soul.
Rehman Malik while briefing the committee about stranded devotees at Pak-Iran border said he has taken notice of the difficulties being faced by the devotees.
He appreciated Frontier Corps of Balochistan and FIA for the immediate arrangement to facilitate the devotees and said there must be a permanent solution to problems of the devotees.
He further asked the Ministry of Interior to establish a marquee in case there is a shortage of accommodation in Pakistan House.
On Sahiwal tragedy, Malik said the committee had requested the prime minister to constitute a judicial commission so that families of the victims could get justice.
He said the committee would pursue the Sahiwal matter until justice is provided to the affected families.
The committee also discussed the matter pertaining to difficulties being faced by Pashton citizens for obtaining Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs).
Malik asked NADRA to facilitate Pashtun citizens in providing CNICs.
To this, NADRA chairman said registration of citizens is a complex phenomenon especially in a country where a large number of refugees and aliens are residing.
To cater for this challenge, NADRA has evolved a mechanism to verify the authenticity of citizens prior to registration and issuance of CNICs, he said and added that individuals are required to provide documents as per registration policy and passed through under verification checklist.
In case of any doubt in national status, applicants are asked to provide documents, the NADRA chief said.
It was further highlighted that no such rule exists wherein CNICs are issued to the individuals living in Pakistan before 1989.
