Unmask real culprits, demand lawmakers

MQM-Pakistan calls for new provinces

ISLAMABAD : Lawmakers in the National Assembly on Monday strongly condemned the assassination attempt on Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and called for unmasking the real elements behind the act of brutal violence.

Moreover, they questioned the competence of security agencies and alleged that they are not doing their job right in providing protection.

They also broached the subject of withdrawal of security from MNAs and MPAs on the order of the apex court. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said “he is writing a letter to all IGs and chief secretaries to provide security to parliamentarians.”

Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah said “Attack on the interior minister is a very serious issue, the politicians need to get united and politics should not be made over the issue.”



Ijaz Jakhrani of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians said the attack on interior minister has revealed that there is no writ of the government and asked for identifying real culprits involved in the act.

“I was alerted when the court ordered to withdraw the security,” Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s Mian Mannan said and asked the speaker to form a committee which could itself investigate the matter.

Dr Shireen Mazari of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf besides condemning the attack asked the government to take action against proscribed organizations and proscribed persons.

Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazal’s Naeema Kishwar Khan said that “Linking this incident with Ulema and Madrassa would be wrong.” She was of the view that law and order situation has not improved much.

Sheikh Salahudin of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) said that many terrorists have been killed during the operation against them and he has also talked about safe havens for such elements in the country.

Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party’s Abdul Qahar Khan Wadan said the law enforcement agencies are not making real effort and people are being made fool and said the attack on Iqbal is the test for security agencies.

Syed Esa Noori of Balochistan National Party said no culprit was identified in high-profile killings, which is the main reason behind recurrence of such incidents. He stressed for removing ban on issuance of armed licences.

However, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique lamented “when politicians would start their talk by calling bad names then it would end in bullet (being fired).”

MQM-P demands new provinces

Taking part in discussion on the federal budget, MQM-P’s Dr Farooq Sattar demanded that new administrative units or provinces should be formed throughout the country.



MQM-P leader also talked on National Finance Commission Award which was last awarded in 2007 and demanded that the provinces should be made bound to disburse the resources among districts and tehsils under the same formula under which the provinces are awarded.

Provinces are collecting sales tax on services to the tune of Rs80 billion, he said adding they should also shoulder responsibility to overcome the energy crisis.

He demanded that 20% increase should be made in the salaries of the government employees and the minimum wage of unskilled workers should be fixed at Rs25,000 per month.



Sattar said CPEC should be made a national project and the revival of KCR must also be ensured.  He said “government is generating Rs450 billion as tax on loading mobile phone balance from cellular companies on an annual basis.”

PPP’s Nawab Yousaf Talpur said Sindh irrigation sector has been neglected. Bhasha Dam should be made part of the projects in CPEC, adding that a total of Rs1,624 billion were spent on the energy projects in Punjab, he observed.

Major (retd) Tahir Iqbal said new housing societies need to be set up for recycling water plant which may be used later for agriculture sector.