NA passes resolutions condemning Karachi and Taftan attacks
Interior minister briefs House on the Karachi airport attack and the quick response by security forces.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar. PHOTO: ONLINE/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The National Assembly (NA) unanimously passed on Tuesday two resolutions against the attacks on the Karachi airport and Shia pilgrims in Taftan on June 8.
The resolutions salute the security personnel who laid down their lives while protecting the country in the Karachi airport attack and condemn the act of terrorism and sectarianism in Taftan, Balochistan.
During today's session, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was briefing the House on the swift response by security forces to the Karachi airport, when he was informed by the Opposition about a fresh attack at the ASF Academy in Karachi earlier today.
Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Shah Mehmood Qureshi rose from his seat in the middle of the session, as did another parliamentarian, to bring to Nisar’s notice that there was another attack in Karachi.
The interior minister appeared a little taken aback about the news and after slight hesitation, continued to say that the country has been facing an extremely difficult situation for the last 13 years.
In his briefing, Nisar claimed that the first attack was launched at 11:05 pm Sunday night and that the terrorists entered the airport in two groups of five from separate gates.
The interior minister further added that the features of the assailants were not Pakistani, nor that of a neighbouring country (possibly referring to India), claiming that they were fair, tall and had light facial hair.
The minister highlighted the motives of the terrorists as wanting to negotiate a deal by holding people and assets hostage as they were carrying heavy backpacks with ration and dry fruits, indicating that they planned to make their operation last a while. However, they did not succeed in their plans.
He stated that the operation lasted two hours and 15 mins and the terrorists were killed by 1:45 am, after which combing operations took place.
Seven of the terrorists were shot, while three others blew themselves up.
Nisar informed the assembly that two intelligence alerts were given specifically for Karachi to the Sindh government and to law enforcers by the interior ministry. Since November, six security alerts were issued to the Sindh government, he added. He also questioned how such heavily-armed men could roam around the city in a HiAce (a minivan) without being stopped.
He added that all provinces along with the Centre should be on the same page and that everyone needs to be aware of their duties, roles and obligations.
“I could give a political speech, but this will be unfair to Pakistan -- finger pointing will be wrong,” he said. The interior minister further warned that this situation would not end overnight and we must be ready for the long haul.
He said we must be sensitive to the sacrifices of our countrymen so the dream of a peaceful Pakistan can be realised.
PTI's Qureshi thanked Nisar for taking the assembly into confidence and said the message of unity should go out to the forces of instability.
He added that according to media reports, it appears that the military and civilian leadership are not on the same page; this could be fictitious, but at this time, unity and confidence are required between institutions.
However, he pointed out that there was one case of criminal negligence involving the seven people who were trapped in the cold storage. He stated that it was because of one media house (Express) that this situation came to the fore and he questioned the presence of authorities and equipment during the rescue effort.
Praise for ASF
Interior Minister Nisar praised the courage of the Airport Security Force (ASF), which lost 11 men in Sunday's attack.
He stated that three ASF guards held off the terrorists for 15 minutes at the gate allowing other security forces to reach the site during that time and, thus, prevented the terrorists from succeeding in their plan to hold the area hostage and target airplanes.
The minister claimed the CCTV footage he saw of this rebuttal was awe-inspiring, with one ASF man being shot and down, but continuing to engage the terrorists.
He said the men did not spare anything to defend Pakistan.
The National Assembly (NA) unanimously passed on Tuesday two resolutions against the attacks on the Karachi airport and Shia pilgrims in Taftan on June 8.
The resolutions salute the security personnel who laid down their lives while protecting the country in the Karachi airport attack and condemn the act of terrorism and sectarianism in Taftan, Balochistan.
During today's session, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was briefing the House on the swift response by security forces to the Karachi airport, when he was informed by the Opposition about a fresh attack at the ASF Academy in Karachi earlier today.
Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Shah Mehmood Qureshi rose from his seat in the middle of the session, as did another parliamentarian, to bring to Nisar’s notice that there was another attack in Karachi.
The interior minister appeared a little taken aback about the news and after slight hesitation, continued to say that the country has been facing an extremely difficult situation for the last 13 years.
In his briefing, Nisar claimed that the first attack was launched at 11:05 pm Sunday night and that the terrorists entered the airport in two groups of five from separate gates.
The interior minister further added that the features of the assailants were not Pakistani, nor that of a neighbouring country (possibly referring to India), claiming that they were fair, tall and had light facial hair.
The minister highlighted the motives of the terrorists as wanting to negotiate a deal by holding people and assets hostage as they were carrying heavy backpacks with ration and dry fruits, indicating that they planned to make their operation last a while. However, they did not succeed in their plans.
He stated that the operation lasted two hours and 15 mins and the terrorists were killed by 1:45 am, after which combing operations took place.
Seven of the terrorists were shot, while three others blew themselves up.
Nisar informed the assembly that two intelligence alerts were given specifically for Karachi to the Sindh government and to law enforcers by the interior ministry. Since November, six security alerts were issued to the Sindh government, he added. He also questioned how such heavily-armed men could roam around the city in a HiAce (a minivan) without being stopped.
He added that all provinces along with the Centre should be on the same page and that everyone needs to be aware of their duties, roles and obligations.
“I could give a political speech, but this will be unfair to Pakistan -- finger pointing will be wrong,” he said. The interior minister further warned that this situation would not end overnight and we must be ready for the long haul.
He said we must be sensitive to the sacrifices of our countrymen so the dream of a peaceful Pakistan can be realised.
PTI's Qureshi thanked Nisar for taking the assembly into confidence and said the message of unity should go out to the forces of instability.
He added that according to media reports, it appears that the military and civilian leadership are not on the same page; this could be fictitious, but at this time, unity and confidence are required between institutions.
However, he pointed out that there was one case of criminal negligence involving the seven people who were trapped in the cold storage. He stated that it was because of one media house (Express) that this situation came to the fore and he questioned the presence of authorities and equipment during the rescue effort.
Praise for ASF
Interior Minister Nisar praised the courage of the Airport Security Force (ASF), which lost 11 men in Sunday's attack.
He stated that three ASF guards held off the terrorists for 15 minutes at the gate allowing other security forces to reach the site during that time and, thus, prevented the terrorists from succeeding in their plan to hold the area hostage and target airplanes.
The minister claimed the CCTV footage he saw of this rebuttal was awe-inspiring, with one ASF man being shot and down, but continuing to engage the terrorists.
He said the men did not spare anything to defend Pakistan.