Opposition senators seek explanation from Sheikh Rashid over rising terror incidents

Published January 21, 2022
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed  briefs the Senate session on Friday. — DawnNewsTV
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed briefs the Senate session on Friday. — DawnNewsTV

Opposition senators on Friday sought an explanation from Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed over the recent terrorist incidents in the country, including the blast in Lahore on Thursday which claimed the lives of three people.

During today's session, the opposition urged Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani to suspend routine proceedings and debate the country's law and order situation in the wake of the Lahore blast and the killing of a policeman in Islamabad during a shootout.

Addressing the upper house, Senator Raza Rabbani lamented that terror incidents were on the rise in the country.

He said that the Balochistan Liberation Army had claimed responsibility for one of the attacks "while the interior minister said the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was behind it". The senator demanded that the minister be summoned to clear the confusion in this regard.

"Do the recent incidents not prove that the approach adopted in dealing with the TTP was wrong?" he questioned.

Senator Yousuf Raza Gillani said terror incidents were increasing and the interior minister should brief parliament in this regard, adding that media reports were not sufficient to ascertain the details.

Senator Sadia Abbasi said she had submitted a calling attention notice at the Senate secretariat to discuss the law and order situation. "However, it was not incorporated in the agenda," she said.

Irfan Siddiqui of the PML-N said the incidents of robberies were on the rise in the capital, while "the interior ministry was busy indulging in rhetoric". The senator said he had not seen the interior minister in the House for any briefing during the last nine months.

On the demand of the opposition, the interior minister made a brief appearance during today's session. He said that there were "special motives" behind the killing of the cop in Islamabad, adding that the government was investigating the incident.

The minister also informed the House about fencing work at the Pak-Afghan border, stating that only 20 kilometres remained to be fenced while 2,800-km had been completed. He said that 200km also remained to be fenced at the Pak-Iran border.

The minister also condemned the Lahore blast and said that an investigation into the incident was underway. He said that no one would be allowed to spoil the country's peaceful environment.

The minister said two terrorists were killed in the Islamabad shootout, adding that six mobile phones belonging to the attackers were also recovered. "I do not want to mention the details about their movement and accommodation," Rashid said.

Subsequently, the opposition parties submitted an adjournment motion seeking an explanation from the minister over terror incidents in the country.

Following this, the Senate chairman told the minister to brief the upper house in this regard and the steps taken by the government on Monday (Jan 24).

'Terror has come to capital'

Earlier this week, the interior minister had termed the attack in Islamabad an act of terrorism and warned that it was a signal that terrorism had come to the capital.

The minister also said this was the first such incident of the New Year and said that all law enforcement agencies needed to raise their guard.

“This is not a matter of petty theft or dacoity, this purely is an act of terrorism,” he said.

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...