Peace deal with Taliban: Senators express concern over women, minority rights

Upper house passes unanimous resolution exhorting govt to ensure that rights are protected.

ISLAMABAD:

As talks between the government and the Taliban make steady headway, senators struck a note of caution on Wednesday when they unanimously passed a resolution urging the government to ensure that the rights of women and minorities remain protected under any peace framework in the tribal areas.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Nasreen Jalil tabled this resolution on National Women’s Day, calling on the government to constitute a commission for the protection of women from the ‘illegal orders of jirgas’.

Senators from both sides supported her move and passed it unanimously, expressing concern that the rights of women and minorities might be compromised in case of a peace deal with the Taliban in their strongholds.

A day earlier, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Aitzaz Ahsan had demanded that the government include representatives of women and minorities in its negotiating committee holding talks with the TTP intermediaries.



Meanwhile, lawmakers on the opposition benches demanded the prime minister clarify a recent statement by Imran Khan. Without directly naming the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief, Senator Raza Rabbani said that the head of a political party, in a television programme, claimed that the former army chief told the prime minister there are 40% chances of success in a Fata military operation.

Rabbani said that if the statement is correct, the armed forces do not have the capacity to take on the Taliban. “This statement is demoralising, not only for the Pakistani military but also for the state. It means that we are holding talks with the Taliban in a state of surrender.”

He also demanded that the prime minister ‘end his boycott of the Senate’ and take the house into confidence over these important matters.

In response, Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq expressed shock over the political party chief’s statement. Issuing such a statement at this juncture when the government is pursuing the peace talks is not suitable, he added.

However, Raza Rabbani insisted that the Prime Minister must come to the house – and soon, as the matter was serious and urgent. Raja Zafarul Haq assured him that the premier is in Turkey for the trilateral summit but he will probe the matter as soon as he returns.

A police state?

Awami National Party’s Haji Adeel moved a privilege motion to the concerned committee of the house regarding the phone tapping of politicians, government officials and journalists allegedly by the agencies.

He quoted media reports that claimed that intelligence agencies were not only tapping phone calls of important personalities, but were also creating differences among government functionaries, politicians and cabinet members.

Raja Zafarul Haq supported Haji Adeel’s demand to refer the matter to the privilege committee, which should summon the chiefs of these intelligence agencies and seek explanations.

An end to power woes

Earlier during the question hour, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali informed the house that the government is providing a subsidy of Rs143 billion to consumers who are using up to 300 units of electricity.

On the Daimer-Bhasha Dam, he said its feasibility study has been completed and over Rs15 billion have been released during the current fiscal for its land acquisition and construction.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2014.