Fresh alerts: G-B lawmakers ask CM to review security measures
PPP legislator cites interior ministry’s letter warning of terrorist attacks.
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Mehdi Shah. PHOTO: ZAFAR ASLAM
GILGIT:
The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Assembly speaker on Thursday directed Chief Minister (CM) Mehdi Shah to immediately review the region’s security arrangements in light of new terrorist threats.
Speaker Wazir Baig made the comments after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker from Ghizer, Ayub Shah, referred to a “threat alert” from the interior ministry which revealed that terrorists are planning attacks in the region.
“The matter is quite serious and warrants adoption of preemptive measures on a war footing,” said Baig, asking the CM to immediately hold a meeting with security heads of the region to ensure foolproof preventive arrangements.
Shah said the letter warned of attacks by terrorists in the guise of security officials.
Minister for Water and Power Didar Ali demanded an in-camera briefing for lawmakers in the wake of renewed threats and said downplaying of the matter may lead to a catastrophe.
The CM, however, termed the alerts a routine matter but vowed to hold a session with security chiefs to ascertain the situation. A copy of the decisions taken in the meeting would be forwarded to the house, he assured the speaker.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker from Baltistan, Sultan Ali, called for provision of official accommodation for parliamentarians from remote areas as they do not feel secure in hotels. “The parliamentarians from remote areas visiting Gilgit officially don’t feel secure in the town,” he said.
Rahmat Khaliq of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl called for the formation of an Ulema board to settle sectarian disputes in the region whereas PPP’s Agha Muhammad Ali lamented unbridled corruption in the Local Government, Rural Development and Census department, calling for strict accountability.
The house also unanimously passed a resolution demanding pre-budget sessions for G-B lawmakers. “There should be pre-budget sessions for lawmakers to ensure they are well aware of budget allocations,” said PML-N’s Janbaz Khan, who tabled the resolution.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2014.
The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Assembly speaker on Thursday directed Chief Minister (CM) Mehdi Shah to immediately review the region’s security arrangements in light of new terrorist threats.
Speaker Wazir Baig made the comments after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker from Ghizer, Ayub Shah, referred to a “threat alert” from the interior ministry which revealed that terrorists are planning attacks in the region.
“The matter is quite serious and warrants adoption of preemptive measures on a war footing,” said Baig, asking the CM to immediately hold a meeting with security heads of the region to ensure foolproof preventive arrangements.
Shah said the letter warned of attacks by terrorists in the guise of security officials.
Minister for Water and Power Didar Ali demanded an in-camera briefing for lawmakers in the wake of renewed threats and said downplaying of the matter may lead to a catastrophe.
The CM, however, termed the alerts a routine matter but vowed to hold a session with security chiefs to ascertain the situation. A copy of the decisions taken in the meeting would be forwarded to the house, he assured the speaker.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker from Baltistan, Sultan Ali, called for provision of official accommodation for parliamentarians from remote areas as they do not feel secure in hotels. “The parliamentarians from remote areas visiting Gilgit officially don’t feel secure in the town,” he said.
Rahmat Khaliq of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl called for the formation of an Ulema board to settle sectarian disputes in the region whereas PPP’s Agha Muhammad Ali lamented unbridled corruption in the Local Government, Rural Development and Census department, calling for strict accountability.
The house also unanimously passed a resolution demanding pre-budget sessions for G-B lawmakers. “There should be pre-budget sessions for lawmakers to ensure they are well aware of budget allocations,” said PML-N’s Janbaz Khan, who tabled the resolution.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2014.