ISLAMABAD - The federal government on Wednesday once again warned there could be more terror attacks in the country because of action against terrorists on account of the National Action Plan and the military operation in North Waziristan.
Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan, responding to sharp criticism by opposition parties in the National Assembly, said reaction of terrorists could be witnessed in other parts of the country, adding national unity was required to root out the menace of terrorism from the country.
The government came under sharp criticism, both from the opposition and its allies, for its alleged apathy towards the Shikarpur terrorist attack victims.
The interior minister said the terrorists might target other places, so the nation should not be divided at this juncture, as creating divisions was the main agenda of these nefarious elements. “Personal enmity should not be expressed in the Parliament and it is inappropriate to do politics on terrorism,” he said, in response to back-to-back attacks on the government from the opposition lawmakers.
Citing the example of developed countries’ reaction after such kinds of attacks, Nisar said unanimous message should be given to the terrorists. “There is no short-term solution to this problem. It could take weeks, months and even years to root out the menace of terrorism. This is an uneven and difficult war,” he said, adding they would fight coward terrorists till their eradication from the country.
About the Shikarpur incident, the minister informed the house that district had a sectarian strife in its surrounding areas. “It is a hub of the elements that use the Afghanistan and Fata route for their terror activities in Karachi and Quetta,” he said, adding one finger of a terrorist had been found and was lying with Nadra for verification. “It will be verified either the terrorist was a Pakistani or a foreigner,” he said, adding a tailor had been arrested for investigation. The terrorist used 5 to 9kg of explosive material in the suicide attack which resulted in the loss of 62 precious lives and injuries to 53 others.
He further said that improved coordination amongst the federal and provincial governments and security agencies had thwarted many terrorist attacks. “Intelligence will certainly be provided by the Centre, but this was purely a provincial matter,” he said.
Taking the floor, Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah once again urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to visit Shikarpur district. “This is not point-scoring at all as sense of deprivation is increasing among the people of Sindh,” said Shah, adding the opposition had supported the government at the All Parties Conference and on other occasions for giving a message of unity to terrorists.
“We are not doing politics as it is our responsibility to raise voice on the government’s apathy,” he said, adding the government should not demonstrate immaturity. About the Shikarpur incident, he said they were informed that the head and feet of the suicide bomber had been found.
The house also witnessed rumpus when Minister of State Abid Sher Ali, on a call-attention notice, claimed there was no unscheduled loadshedding in the country. “Loadshedding increases in accordance with the ratio of line losses,” the minister said and added he was ready to sit with the opposition to discuss the confusion about unscheduled loadshedding.
PPP’s Aijaz Jhakrani and Shazia Marri came down hard on the minister and said there was unscheduled loadshedding in different parts of Sindh.
PPP’s senior lawmaker, former NA speaker Fehmida Mirza, said Badin district of Sindh was also facing unscheduled loadshedding. She further said Cancer Day was being observed as this disease was spreading fast. There was a need of awareness campaigns and seminars about it,” she added.
A bill entitled ‘Offences in respect of Banks (Special Courts), 2015’ was also introduced in the house.
UN URGED TO PLAY ROLE
FOR KASHMIR RESOLUTION
The National Assembly also unanimously passed a resolution calling upon the United Nations and the international community to play its role for the resolution of Kashmir dispute in accordance with the resolutions of the UNSC and aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
The resolution, moved by JUI-F chief and Chairman of Kashmir Committee Maulana Fazlur Rahman, paid rich tributes to the sacrifices rendered by the Kashmiri people for the cause of self-determination.
“This house salutes to the brave and valiant people of Kashmir as they have been continuing their just struggle despite the presence of oppressive seven hundred thousand Indian troops in the valley,” it said.
The resolution reiterated Pakistan’s continuous political, moral and diplomatic support for Kashmiri people and said that the lingering dispute should be resolved through a fair and transparent plebiscite.
It noted that the people of occupied Kashmir boycotted the elections in the territory. Therefore, the Indian government should refrain from such activities.
The resolution also strongly condemned the Indian human rights violations in Occupied Kashmir. It called upon the international community to investigate the incidents of human rights violations such as the kidnapping of Kashmiri youth in the valley. It also called upon the Indian government to allow the human rights organizations to visit the occupied valley.
The resolution said that Kashmir dispute is a centerpiece in Indo-Pak dialogue and it’s a resolution is imperative for durable peace and stability in the region. It also called upon the United Nations to strengthen the role of UN military observer group.
The resolution also strongly denounced the unprovoked Indian firing on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary which martyred innocent people and damaged properties.