NA passes resolutions condemning Karachi and Taftan attacks

Interior minister briefs House on the Karachi airport attack and the quick response by security forces.


Azam Khan June 10, 2014
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.

COMMENTS (47)

Nasir | 10 years ago | Reply

If you are denying PPP sacrifices against terrorism you are distorting history. BB her life for that cause. Who can forget sacrifices of ANP.How Ifthikhar son was killed by terrorist and martyrdom of Bashir Balour. Reham Malik always reached at venue of terrorism. Can you compare with CH Nasar. How you can down play heroic decisions of swat and South Waziristan. Please don’t equate these confused people with PPP and ANP.

Waseem | 10 years ago | Reply

@ Ch. Allah Daad, I think you haven't read my above comments regarding police, provinces and federation and the attitude of the federal government. This has been the attitude of the PML-N to let everything go as it is, which we saw during the PPP government that they never created any problem for the PPP which could have made PPP realize that there is a strong opposition which can even overthrow there government. The attitude has damaged the democracy a lot and now everything is going out of hand. PML-N also has to get out of this attitude of fighting with the army. They sided with a private Tv Channel against a state institution. Even if the army was wrong even then you cannot go against the state institution because that creates chaos and the writ of the state starts melting down. How will you stop these private armies like Taliban and other militant groups when you cannot stop a single private media group who is attacking your state institution so openly. We all have to realize that Pakistan is in grave danger. We have to get out of this tribal psyche of taking revenge and in fighting. Army is a part of state and federation. Governments come and go but these institutions remain. We have to work with them no matter what because the civilians have failed to take charge of the internal law & Order situation as they were not able to reform the police and other civilian law enforcement agencies. The government has to co-ordinate with the army so that they know that the government is interested in taking charge of the situation. When this government came how many meetings did the Prime Minister chaired regarding the Law & Order and how many regarding the electricity crisis. That will give you an idea of where the priorities are. And this allowed the army to take control of this major issue of the country and now you see that the government is asking for the army's help. Stop discriminating between militants who ever they are. Whether they are sectarian, nationalist, political or economic(including media) mafias. They all are part of this chaos in our country. Every body has to be under the law or else face the music. If you let one go then how can you take on the other which will surely cry foul over your intentions.

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