Thin attendance: Lawmakers rail against govt, question anti-terror resolve

NA fails to pass resolution condemning Quetta carnage

ISLAMABAD: The normal agenda of the National Assembly took a back seat on Monday to the terrible tragedy that occurred in Quetta, with lawmakers questioning the government’s seriousness in dealing with terrorism and the wider issue of non-implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP).

However, it was also a day for soul-searching, with some recalling that this wave of terrorism sweeping the country was partially of ‘our own making’.

And it was for the first time in our parliamentary history that the lower house failed to pass a resolution, condemning the carnage as per the norms in the past because of thin attendance, particularly from the treasury side. The house will take up the resolution on Tuesday (today).

PTI’s Dr Shireen Mazari felt such an embarrassment that she, while drawing the speaker’s attention towards the treasury’s empty benches, said “have some mercy”.



At the time of the debate, there were hardly 50 members present in a house of 342. “Where are the members on both sides [of the aisle] … we are all responsible,” Ms Mazari added.

PPP’s Abdul Sattar Bachani also resisted the government’s persuasion to pass the resolution on the same day, threatening to point ‘lack of quorum’. “This is the kind of seriousness of lawmakers, adding “passing of a resolution would neither end terrorism nor depression”.

Lawmakers present in the house, while condemning the barbaric attack, criticised the government for adopting what they described as ‘toothless’ polices to deal with terrorism.

Maulana Muhammad Khan Sherani from the JUI-F was very critical about the state’s policy to deal with the menace of terrorism and the role of the establishment.

“Pakistan is for the establishment or the establishment is for Pakistan,” Sherani questioned.

The JUI-F leader also questioned the rationale behind military operations in the country, questioning: “In which part of the world are people made homeless in their own country?”

Ms Mazari said the government has failed to ensure peace and stability in the country, adding today’s incident has raised doubts over intelligence agencies’ performance.

“We have to give a counter narrative in the war against terrorism and fight this war at every level,” she said, adding the nation’s faith in the state has been diminishing.

“Which provision of NAP you have implemented,” MQM’s Abdul Waseem questioned, adding, “why don’t you tell this house about the hurdles in the way of implementing NAP.”

Ghulam Ahmed Bilour form the ANP said “terrorism will not end unless we have good relations with our neighbours”.

Dr Arif Alvi from the PTI said we need to have a counter narrative to fight the menace of terrorism.

Shah Gee Gul Afridi from Fata questioned the logic of launching military operations in Fata, saying, “There would be no result even if you have 20 more operations like Operation Zarb-e-Azb and operation Khyber I or Khyber II.”

Sahibzada Tariqullah from the JI lauded the scathing response of Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan to his Indian counterpart at the Saarc summit in Islamabad.

Aftab Sherpao said the issue of terrorism is not going to end in the near future. “Though the military operation in Waziristan might have some impact, terrorism has already spread all across the country.”

Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjah from the PML-N tried to give the federal government a clean chit, saying law and order was the responsibility of provinces after the 18th Amendment.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2016.