MPs want in-camera briefing on militancy

As lawmakers in parliament’s second joint sitting on Monday sounded alarm over surge in terrorist activities by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), PPP Senator Raza Rabbani demanded that the military leadership provide an in-camera briefing on failed peace talks with militants.

In a joint sitting chaired by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf, the lawmakers rued the decision to enter into dialogue with militants and demanded that the military leadership be invited to the house for an in-camera briefing on the matter in light of resurging militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

They deplored that the emerging security situation was threatening to devour businesses and trade communities in the province as commoners lived under the reign of terror, bereft of protection.

Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Shazia Marri also endorsed the PPP senator’s suggestion to convene an in-camera sitting to thoroughly discuss the facts behind the gory incidents and stressed the need to focus on law and order in the country as durable peace could help address all other problems, including the economic crisis.

She recalled that parliament has always come forth to play a key role whenever incidents of terrorism such as the Peshawar Police Lines mosque blast and the Army Public School attack shook the nation.

The minister stressed that the 20-point National Action Plan (NAP), which was devised on the recommendations of the joint sitting of the parliament, should be completely implemented to avert the reoccurrence of terrorist incidents.

Ms Marri noted that extremism and terrorism were interlinked as both shared the same narrative and mindset behind them and the war against the two could not be defeated until a counter-narrative was devised.

She recalled that despite political differences, her party had supported the NAP as it was important to build a narrative based on principles of unity, faith and discipline.

She said the APS attack and Peshawar Police Lines blast had shocked the entire nation and to prevent such incidents, “we have to fix ourselves. We have to stop spreading hatred, besides teaching schoolchildren and students of religious seminaries how to promote peace”.

Earlier, Senator Raza Rabbani questioned the absence of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah when the house was set to discuss law and order.

“It is necessary for the interior minister to be present in the house,” he said and added that keeping up with the tradition of the joint session, the government should give a policy statement on terrorism.

‘Crumbling writ of state’

Similarly, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been a victim of terrorism for a long time and expressed concerns over the looming threat over the traders’ community while “the writ of the state is nowhere to be seen in the province”.

He claimed the surge in militancy was driving the business class out of the province.

The senator, who belongs to Jamaat-e-Islami, said as per the former chief minister, over 376 terrorist attacks have taken place in the province between July and December 2022.

He expressed concerns that the government was“helpless in front of terrorist attacks” and the people were left bereft of security fending for themselves under the rule of terrorists.

Talking about the Peshawar suicide blast, the senator deplored that not a single person resigned in the wake of the massive attack.

“The ideological basis for terrorists has been eliminated,” he said, adding that 2,000 scholars issued a fatwa against armed struggle and terrorist attacks.

He also questioned how the TTP managed to make its way back to Swat and attack the CTD office. “All these incidents should be investigated.”