Senate panel lauds forces’ role in face of Indian threat

Upper House of the Parliament passes resolution condemning the discriminatory attitude of FATF

The Senate Standing Committee on Interior has strongly condemned Indian warplanes’ February 26 intrusion into Pakistan and lauded the Pakistan armed forces for their immediate and befitting response to Indian aggression.

"Our armed forces, especially [the Pakistan] Air Force had responded to India in an effective way which depicted professional skills of forces and wisdom of army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa," said the committee in a meeting chaired by Senator Rehman Malik on Tuesday.

The committee members also prayed for soldiers who embraced martyrdom along the Line of Control (LOC) due to India’s unprovoked firing and paid tributes to them for their sacrifices in defence of the motherland.

Senators –Javed Abbasi, Ateeq Shaikh, Momin Khan Afridi, Usman Khan Kakar and Kalsoom Parveen – secretary interior, Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman, Islamabad mayor and provincial home secretaries were among those who attended the meeting.

The committee also unanimously approved a resolution against the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for its discriminatory behaviour reflected by its lack of action against India.  The panel showed deep concerns over this preferential treatment.

Malik said he had sent to the FATF president reminder with evidence of terrorist financing to Indian extremist groups but no action was taken so far. "If they do not open case against India then a case opened against Pakistan must be closed," he said.

The committee was told that most of the persons recently arrested on charges of involvement in terrorist activities belonged to tribal areas of south Punjab and had links with terrorist organisations.

The panel was informed that when the police could not satisfy families of missing persons, they approached the Commission on Missing Persons.  Malik said the commission should be given suo motu powers to get better results. He assured the committee's full support to the commission.

Senator Usman Kakar expressed his concern over the facts and figures provided by relevant authorities regarding missing persons and claimed 80 new cases of missing persons had been reported.  Momin Afridi said he had received a threatening call from Afghanistan number, asking him for extortion money.

With additional input from the APP.