ISLAMABAD: Senator Farhatullah Babar demanded that the parliament is taken into confidence about the not so secret moves to mainstream militant organisations in the country.
Speaking on an issue of public importance in the Senate on Wednesday, the senator drew attention towards a statement of Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal in which he said that ex-militant organisations if stopped from raising funds for charity work, will revert to terrorism.
“This is a far-reaching statement that confirms that moves are afoot to mainstream terrorist organisations,” Farhatullah Babar said and asked as to who had formulated this policy, and which militant organisations will be mainstreamed and under what conditions.
“The government must come out clean as any thoughtless move will have far-reaching implications for the fight against militancy,” the senator said.
He went on to say that the participation of banned outfits in recent by-elections, the emergence of Milli Muslim League (MML), JuD entering into electoral politics, and protecting Ehsanullah Esan pointed towards such moves.
Mainstreaming the militants launching deadly attacks in neighbouring countries will be seen as an act of provocation, he warned.
Farhatullah Babar also opposed the proposed amendment in the law to provide for public executions of criminals. “Public hangings will not deter crimes but only further brutalise the society,” he said.
He went on to say that kidnapping and rape of children were already punishable by death and the culprit in Zainab case must be punished expeditiously. “Public hangings, even if necessary, could be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Jail manual and there is no need for amending the penal code, which risks miscarriage in a broken criminal justice system,” the senator said.
Senate chairman then read out provision from jail manual and referred the matter later to the law and justice committee to report whether, in the presence of the provision, it is still necessary to amend the penal code.
Farhatullah Babar also raised the issue of across the board accountability and asked as to what had been done to implement the senate report which proposed across the board accountability of all sections of society.
He also said that the government’s report on compliance of senate recommendations on eradication of corruption was totally silent on the recommendation pertaining to the accountability of judges and security establishment.
Senate chairman interjected to say that since the parliamentary committee on accountability had decided not to press for the accountability of all, it was no use asking the law minister to respond to this question.
