ISLAMABAD:
Agitated at personal attacks from the opposition and severe criticism of his ministry, Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday requested a special briefing session of the parliament on terrorism while threatening to “expose who was doing what” in terms of conspiracies being hatched to destabilise the country.
“Given the time and chance in an in-camera session of the parliament, I will expose all those involved in assisting terrorists and conspiring against the state,” said Malik after being made the butt of criticism for the poor law and order situation from the opposition, following demands for grants for the interior division in the National Assembly.
“I can unveil many faces that are sympathetic towards the Taliban in an in-camera session of the house,” added Malik.
Once again, terming Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as the top enemy of the country, Malik said militants had not even spared young girls, forcing them into suicide bombings. “Unfortunately, certain elements were still supporting and assisting the Taliban. It is time to rise above petty politics and unite for the country,” said the interior minister.
Shunning criticism against security forces, Malik claimed the boy shot by the Rangers’ personnel in Karachi, Sarfraz Shah, was a criminal. However, all six Rangers’ personnel were arrested immediately since they were not authorised to kill him.
Malik further told the House that Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had refused to appoint a sitting judge of the Supreme Court as head of the commission to probe Saleem Shehzad’s murder on the point that there was already a dearth of judges.
The National Assembly approved Rs55 billion in grants for the interior division, rejecting cut motions by the opposition, but the latter came down hard on the interior minister and his conduct at the helm of affairs of his ministry, with some asking him to resign over the ministry’s failure to control target killings in Karachi.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) legislators were particularly harsh towards the role and performance of intelligence agencies.
“The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has lost its effectiveness as it was being run by both Military Intelligence (MI) and Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) during Musharraf’s regime,” said Sardar Mehtab Abbasi of the PML-N.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi of the PML-N said the IB was responsible for maintaining internal security and required an overhaul. He further suggested that the issuance of licences for automatic weapons be banned.
Another PML-N legislator Ayaz Amir said that the military-dominated command and control system in the ISI had become obsolete and needed to be changed. “Pakistan requires a comprehensive counter-terrorism doctrine,” said Amir.
However, Malik maintained that both the IB and the ISI did not fall under his ministry. He said that law enforcement agencies had rendered great sacrifices for the country. Over a thousand potential terrorist plans were foiled due to timely intelligence.
Malik also defended the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) saying that the authority had identified thousands of bogus votes.
The National Assembly also approved Rs34 billion in grants for the ministry of water and power and Rs528 million for the ministry of religious affairs.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 22nd, 2011.
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Just one question WHEN he will do this