Shah Noorani suicide attack: Nine Levies guards absent during blast

Taj Haider asks govt to explain how this incident could have sabotaged CPEC

ISLAMABAD: The government informed the Senate on Thursday that nine of 10 personnel of the Levies Force deputed at Shah Noorani shrine were absent when a terrorist attack occurred, in which 36 people were killed.

State Minister for Interior Baleeghur Rehman said that despite a global surge in terrorist incidents, there was a significant reduction in such activities in Pakistan over the past three and a half years.

Concluding the debate on an adjournment motion moved to discuss the Shah Noorani shrine suicide attack, Rehman said the shrine did not have a proper security mechanism, including walkthrough gates, metal detectors or enough security personnel, for monitoring everyone entering the shrine.



“We cannot rule out the possibility that this terrorist incident was aimed at sabotaging the CPEC project,” the minister said.

Rehman claimed that the suicide attack had no other purpose other than tarnish Pakistan’s image abroad. He pointed out that the incident occurred just a day before the departure of first trade consignment through the Gwadar port.

PPP’s Senator Taj Haider urged the government to explain how this incident could have sabotaged CPEC.

“A parliamentary committee on national security should be formed,” he said, adding that political will was needed to eliminate terrorism.

ANP’s Senator Daud Khan Achakzai also called for setting up a committee to coordinate between provinces and the federal government on security issues.

PML-N Senator Mushahidullah Khan mounted an attack on the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for criticising the country’s security situation. He said that Pakistan’s security situation was in much better shape now than during the previous PPP government. He wondered who formed Al-Zulfiqar; a group declared terrorist organization during the regime of military dictator General Ziaul Haq, who maintained it was PPP’s militant wing.

Separately, Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani reserved his ruling on the issue whether the President should address the joint sitting of parliament at the start of the parliamentary year or calendar year.

Law Minister Zahid Hamid believed that the President should address the joint sitting at the start of the parliamentary year.

Denying report that power sector’s circular debt exceeded Rs650 billion, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab said that the circular debt stood at Rs328 billion.

He was responding to a call-attention notice.

He said that power sector owed Rs8 billion to Pakistan State Oil (PSO).

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2016.