Counter terrorism: Non-implementation of NAP worries senators

Question goverment’s move against proscribed outfits

ISLAMABAD:

Opposition senators on Monday slammed the government over what they saw as non- implementation of the much-trumpeted National Action Plan (NAP) to counter terrorism. They also put a question mark over the action thus far taken against proscribed organisations.

A number of senators came down hard on the government as they said the plan, formulated in right earnest after the December 16 Taliban attack on Army Public School in Peshawar, was not being implemented in letter and spirit.

The issue came under discussion after ANP Senator Sitara Ayaz moved a resolution and sought, as per rules, response from the government.

Leader of the house Raja Zafarul Haq told the chair that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan would himself conclude the debate but right now he is busy in connection with a ceremony held for the visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping.

However, the interior minister did not turn up till the prorogation of the house. Senate chairman Raza Rabbani said, “I will put the resolution to vote before the house if the minister did not come in the next session.”

Earlier, MQM senator Tahir Mashhadi said the government did not take any action against the banned organisations under the NAP as they were openly holding rallies in cities. “South Punjab is the hub of Punjabi Taliban,” he claimed.



PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar criticised the way the military courts were making announcements about execution of death sentences through the microblogging site, Twitter. He said announcements of executions were made by tweets without even a word about who the criminals were, when and where they were tried, and what charges were brought against them.

JUI-F Senator Attaur Rehman condemned the government for backing and passing the 21st constitutional amendment without taking all the parliamentary parties on board.

The JUI-F leader said the December 16 attack was not less than 9/11. “But today religious parties are being victimised in the name of NAP,” he said.

Doubts on LNG deal

The government also failed to satisfy inquisitive senators sitting on the opposition benches who alleged massive corruption, lack of transparency and violation of PPRA rules in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) deal with Qatar, which led the chairman to refer the matter to the standing committee.

PPP Senator Saeed Ghani asked the government to make the deal with Qatar public. “Secret LNG deal with Qatar shows there is something fishy,” he added.

He said the country would have to pay $2,72,000 penalty if it did not use the LNG terminal.

Meanwhile, the house unanimously passed a motion for the formation of senate standing committees authorising the chairman to make changes in their composition as and when required.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2015.