The Senate was informed on Friday that a total of 3,169 people have been killed in 2,488 terrorist attacks throughout the country so far during the last three years, while another 6,540 persons were injured in these attacks.
In a written reply to a question, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that 1,579 people were killed in 2008-2009 in 1,157 acts of terrorism, while another 1,590 lost their lives in 2009-2010 in 1,331 incidents of terror. The rest of the incidents have taken place this year.
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa bore the full brunt of suicide hits with the largest death figure – 1,524. Punjab recorded 605 deaths, Sindh 134, Islamabad 125 and Azad Kashmir 11. The written reply omits giving the figure for Balochistan in the breakdown of the overall fatalities.
Likewise, the loss of lives in such attacks in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) was also not included in the data provided by the government.
Malik said that 360 people involved in bomb attacks have been arrested during this period.
Among these suspects, 222 were acquitted by courts, including 172 in K-P, 36 in Punjab and 14 in Islamabad.
In response to another question, the interior minister said that the government banned four outfits including Lashkar-e-Islami, Ansarul Islam, Haji Namdar Group and Tehreek-i-Taliban Punjab in June and August of 2008.
Minister for Narcotics Control Khuda Bux Rajar, in response to a query, said that poppy crops were destroyed in various agencies. He said that in Balochistan 7,086 kg of heroin and 28,386 kg of hashish were recovered in the last three years. He added that 60 culprits involved in the business have been arrested.
Minister for Defence Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar said that work on the Gwadar International Airport is under way, which will be completed at a cost of over Rs7.6 billion. He added that 37 per cent of the project has been completed.
Taking part in the debate on the Presidential address to the parliament Senator Abdur Rahim Mandokhel appreciated President Asif Ali Zardari for his decision to surrender his powers under the 18th Constitutional Amendment. He said the government should focus on terrorism, unemployment and crimes, besides improving the national economy.
Professor Ibrahim stressed the need for passing a resolution jointly by the Parliament to condemn the burning of the Holy Quran as urged by President Zardari in his address to the Parliament. He urged the government to implement its announcement for amendments in the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) to improve the security situation in tribal areas. He also called upon the government to implement a comprehensive socio-economic development project.
Sajid Hussian Zaidi was of the view that there is need to take concrete measures to overcome target killings and lawlessness which is on the rise. He said rule of law and provision of justice are vital to ensure peace.
The Senate has been prorogued.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2011.
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