Senate panel seeks report from agencies on foreign hands in Balochistan
Police officials from Karachi complain that crimes go undocumented.
A file photo of the senate. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
A senate panel on Wednesday sought report from intelligence agencies on the alleged involvement of foreign hands in volatile areas of Pakistan, particularly Balochistan.
"Why is it generally believed that India and Afghanistan are funding 'firar' camps, if there are any, in Balochistan?" questioned Senator Fateh Mohammad Hasni.
He added that this was the right time to take the matter up.
Senate Standing Committee on Interior discussed the worsening law and order situation in the volatile areas of the country while the Panel Senator Talha Mahmood directed Secretary Interior Javed Iqbal to invite all law enforcement and intelligence agencies for their input.
"Lawmakers are concerned over foreign infiltration as it's creating a mess in the areas near the border," said Mahmood.
Members of the committee, however, failed to come to a consensus on ways to address security concerns.
The four-hour long committee session was told that 48 cases of kidnapping were reported over the last three years in Islamabad, 400 in Balochistan in the last two years, 370 in Sindh in the last three years, 350 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, seven in Azad Jammu Kashmir and two in Gilgit-Baltistan.
"Kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative business," said Inspector General Police Sikandar Hayat.
The police officials admitted that there was a lack of coordination amongst law enforcement agencies which hindered collective operation against criminal gangs.
Talking about Karachi, a senior police officer from Sindh informed the lawmakers that there is no documentation of criminal record in the city.
Sindh police forensic department AIG Munir Sheikh added, "criminal gangs who are fully equipped with modern weapons remain the major cause of Karachi's unrest."
He also stressed upon the revision of laws on criminal justice.
Mahmood directed the interior secretary to submit details regarding national security by the first week of September.
A report on the Islamabad Safe City Project was also sought.
A senate panel on Wednesday sought report from intelligence agencies on the alleged involvement of foreign hands in volatile areas of Pakistan, particularly Balochistan.
"Why is it generally believed that India and Afghanistan are funding 'firar' camps, if there are any, in Balochistan?" questioned Senator Fateh Mohammad Hasni.
He added that this was the right time to take the matter up.
Senate Standing Committee on Interior discussed the worsening law and order situation in the volatile areas of the country while the Panel Senator Talha Mahmood directed Secretary Interior Javed Iqbal to invite all law enforcement and intelligence agencies for their input.
"Lawmakers are concerned over foreign infiltration as it's creating a mess in the areas near the border," said Mahmood.
Members of the committee, however, failed to come to a consensus on ways to address security concerns.
The four-hour long committee session was told that 48 cases of kidnapping were reported over the last three years in Islamabad, 400 in Balochistan in the last two years, 370 in Sindh in the last three years, 350 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, seven in Azad Jammu Kashmir and two in Gilgit-Baltistan.
"Kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative business," said Inspector General Police Sikandar Hayat.
The police officials admitted that there was a lack of coordination amongst law enforcement agencies which hindered collective operation against criminal gangs.
Talking about Karachi, a senior police officer from Sindh informed the lawmakers that there is no documentation of criminal record in the city.
Sindh police forensic department AIG Munir Sheikh added, "criminal gangs who are fully equipped with modern weapons remain the major cause of Karachi's unrest."
He also stressed upon the revision of laws on criminal justice.
Mahmood directed the interior secretary to submit details regarding national security by the first week of September.
A report on the Islamabad Safe City Project was also sought.