Lawmakers for devising counterterrorism policy

Urge govt to facilitate police, law enforcement agencies

ISLAMABAD:

Senators from various political parties demanded the government devise a counter-terrorism policy to exterminate the menace of terrorism from the country after evolving consensus with all stakeholders.

Speaking in a discussion on the incident of terrorism in Peshawar and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, they urged the government to provide the required facilities to police and law enforcement agencies to enable them to exterminate the menace of terrorism.

Former Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) demanded the government devise a new consensus over counter-terrorism policy in the upcoming joint session of the parliament by taking on board all the stakeholders. He said parliamentary probe should be initiated for starting dialogue with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) sans taking into confidence people and other stakeholders.

Mushahid Hussain Syed of Pakistan Muslim League said the country’s Afghan policy has miserably failed to yield desired results. He lamented incapacitating National Counter Terrorism Authority (NECTA). He urged the government to announce general elections and let’s talk about Pakistan and its people.

Saifullah Abro of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) criticised the government for dragging PTI Chairman Imran Khan in every ill being confronted by the country.

Bahramand Khan Tangi of Pakistan Peoples Party asked who stopped implementing National Action Plan (NAP), which was formulated in consensus with all stakeholders.

Kamran Murtaza of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) said terrorists were targeting Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The resolution of the country’s issues lies in empowering parliament as well as the government.

Rana Maqbool of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), said NECTA should be declared as division by equipping it with the required manpower and other facilities to it.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2023.