ISLAMABAD - Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that Parliament has failed to make apt counterterrorism laws required to stamp out the militancy.The interior minister briefed both houses of the Parliament separately regarding law and order situation particularly with reference to the situation in Karachi and Balochistan on Friday. It was a tough day for the interior minister, who tried his best to defend his decision on banning motorcycle on roads in Karachi and Quetta.He claimed that the decision was taken on the basis of credible intelligence reports, but senators Babar Awan and Mian Rabbani left the Interior Minister high and dry for the ‘wrong constitutional interpretation’.The criticism from his party ranks compelled Malik to say 'Parliament fails to deliver' in terms of making effective counterterrorism legislation."We should have some soul-searching before criticising courts for setting suspects free. We cannot try a suspect until the passage of Anti-Terrorism Bill. Please make your laws stringent and efficient if you want results," the minister advised his colleagues.He appealed to legislators to take interest for proper legislation of the Anti-Terrorism Bill which was pending for some time. "Law enforcement agencies have to release terror suspects due to the absence of required legislation," he added. Rejecting minister's claim, Rabbani said the parliament had not failed but it could not give a stamp of approval on weak legislation. He said that the Interior Ministry could not make sufficient efforts to remove the flaws pointed out in Anti-Terrorism Bill. Rabbani said the objectives and reasons of the Bill were tantamount to usurp the rights of Pakistanis. "Through that Bill, you (Rehman Malik) tried to legalise the state terrorism."Law Minister Farooq H Naek mentioned the circumstances and procedure adopted by the Sindh High Court to revoke the ban. Quoting some media report, Naek said the application demanding stay against government's order was placed before the chief justice of the Sindh High Court at the SHC Bar Association's annual dinner. "The stay was granted by the CJ instantly without hearing the government’s stance."Malik said the ban was imposed under Article 148 of the Constitution and after the approval of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and taking on board the Sindh government.He said that in the current year, 426 incidents of motorcycle bombing reported across the country. "Decision was based on instant intelligence and in the greater interest of the masses," Malik said, adding the decision was taken as short-term measurement to cope with the imminent danger. He said no one had the authority to challenge the wisdom of the government.Rabbani responded to this, saying that it was constitutionally incorrect to say because the government is answerable to Parliament. He said the government could not be given the licence to govern exceeding its limits defined in the Constitution. Rabbani said vans and truck were also used for bombings in past. "Tomorrow, you will ban them and day after tomorrow you will advise people not to come out of their houses."Farhatullah Babar said that a reason for deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi was that under trial and convicted prisoners had been released on parole, who subsequently disappeared and no longer traceable. He demanded that those behind the release on parole of under trial prisoners and convicts in Karachi in violation of the legal procedure be exposed and tried.Senators belonging to JUI-F earlier staged a token walkout of the House in protest against slow-pace of inquiry into the killing of students of a religious seminary in Karachi few days ago. Senator Babar Awan also criticised the decision, calling the ban illegal.Malik said that he respected the decision of the Sindh High Court but added that the move to ban motorcycles off the roads was right as motorcycles provided an easy mode of transportation to terrorists and were used in most terrorist activities.He said that he would appeal in the Supreme Court against the Sindh High Court's decision.
In the National Assembly, the interior minister, quoting intelligence reports, said that a third force was active to destabilise the government by worsening law and order situation.Responding to a point of order raised by Muttahida Qaumi Movement legislator regarding ban on motorbikes in Karachi, the minister said that he imposed the motorcycle ban because he had credible information about a plan of using motorbike for bomb blast on Friday. "I will keep taking such measures until law and order situation improved. “Either I shut my eyes or take security measures," Malik said, adding that Supreme Court (SC) asked him why he did not take proper steps to control law and order situation.The minister said that in 96 incidents of bombings in Karachi motorbikes were used. PML-N lawmaker Abdul Qadir Baloch, opposing the idea to ban motorbikes in Karachi, remarked that it would create severe inconvenience for poor people. "Bombs could also plant in Suzuki vans and cycle. Bomb could also fasten on one's body. It means people should avoid going out of their homes.”In other proceedings:A bill to repeal the equity participation fund ordinance, 1970 (The Equity Participation Fund (Repeal) Bill, 2012) was introduced in the house.The annual report of the competition commission of Pakistan (CCP), certified by auditors for the financial year 2011 was also laid before the house. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Malik Amad, responding to a question about the reason and terms and condition for releasing 13 Talibans, expressed ignorance on the matter."After taking input from the Interior Ministry, I will be in a position to comment on it," he informed the house, during Question-Hour.The state minister submitted a written reply to the house which reads: “Parliamentary recommendations have continued to guide the course of the relationship with the US. Both countries are working for greater engagements at political, economic and military planes.“It would help to revive our mutual confidence to move forward. A number of engagements and visits are taking place to work on convergences. US recently signed an agreement to provide $67million for up-gradation of Peshawar-Torkham Highway.” Agencies add: Minister of State for Commerce Senator Abbas Afridi has told National Assembly that the decision to accord Most Favorable Nation (MFN) status to India has been taken which will be announced in December 2012. He told the NA during question hour on Friday that Pakistan would be able to realise enormous dividends through trade with neighbouring country India. A larger trade market will become available for Pakistan food items in the form of India, he said.Local industry in the country will acquire cheap raw material from India, he added.