Islamabad incident: Senate seeks report from govt on court attack

Govt asked to identify the third force behind the attacks.

ISLAMABAD:

The upper house of parliament on Monday directed government to submit today (Tuesday) a detailed report identifying lapses on part of the authorities that enabled terrorists to carry out the attack in a district court complex in the capital city.

During the session, Senate Chairman Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari quizzed the government over failing to present the national security policy in Senate and sought an explanation from the leader of the house.

The uproar in Senate comes after Monday’s blatant terrorist attack inside a court compound that left dozens dead, including a judge.

Questioning the security lapse that led to the attack, Bokhari sought names of those who failed in providing security within court premises.

The lawmakers from opposition benches criticised the government for pursuing talks with militant groups, saying the ruling PML-N is hell-bent on holding talks at the cost of bloodshed in the country.

Enraged by attacks in recent weeks, senators stressed the need to identify the third force behind the attacks and launch a full-scale military assault to end the mayhem as the country could not afford any more turmoil.



“When the government fails, it is bound to call the army in aid of civil administration…the attack on Islamabad is an attack on the whole nation. You have the best army in the world; seek and destroy these enemies of liberal, tolerant and progressive Pakistan of Quaid-i-Azam”, said Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Senator Col (retd) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi.

Similarly, Hafiz Hamdullah of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) blamed the government for breeding terrorists.

Wading into the debate, Senator Saeed Ghani of PPP claimed that Taliban agreed to the ceasefire after the government agreed to release their prisoners besides withdrawing the armed forces from some areas of North Waziristan Agency. Ghani also demanded that the interior minister must inform the house about the conditions put forth by Taliban before the ceasefire.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 4^th, 2014.