Upper House session: Senate to get in-camera briefing on Karachi violence

Malik to explain comments about Karachi’s ‘terror wave’ in February.

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Rehman Malik will give an in-camera briefing in Senate next week (February 6) to explain some of the alarming statements made by him recently about possible terrorist attacks in Karachi in the coming month.

The interior minister reiterated his warning during the Senate session on Wednesday, requesting the chairman of the house to allow him to brief lawmakers during a bicameral session.

On Monday, Malik told the media that there was information of terrorist attacks in the port city in February, adding that if Karachi was “detached from the country” the government as well as the intelligence agencies would be responsible.

In response to a point of order by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, the interior minister said Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), Jaish-i-Muhammad and Sipah-e-Sihaba are terrorising people in Karachi.

“It is not the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) involved in Karachi killings as a whole. But, these are the splinter groups,” he said.

The minister also claimed that Ehsanullah Ehsan is not a TTP spokesperson. “He is nobody, but these are the hawks in these organisations that are inflicting terror on innocent people,” he remarked.

Malik said that this would be his ninth request to the Senate chairman for an in-camera briefing over the conspiracies being hatched against Pakistan. Later, responding to the minister’s request, Leader of the Opposition in Senate Ishaq Dar requested Deputy Chairman Sabir Shah to allocate time for an in-camera session for a detailed briefing by the interior minister.

Earlier, Malik also claimed that intelligence agencies were doing a ‘great’ job saving the lives of people in Karachi, Quetta and Peshawar.

“I have asked the intelligence agencies to enhance monitoring as well as security,” he said.

The minister also invited suggestions from Senate members on improving law enforcing initiatives in troubled areas. “I will brief the house about all facts. Give me an opportunity.”

KESC notice

Earlier, Leader of the House in Senate Jahangir Badr moved a motion to suspend the rules and regulations
of the proceedings to
discuss issues related to the administration of Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC).

Senators Saeed Ghani of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Kamil Ali Agha of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) moved the motion against KESC for not appearing before a Senate standing committee despite several notices.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2013.