Security concern: Lawmakers urge army to secure minorities
LEAs brief Senate panel about the security condition of minorities in K-P
ISLAMABAD:
Lawmakers representing minorities in the Senate Panel have demanded of the government to deploy army personnel for the security of non-Muslims in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
“Only Army personnel security can stop ongoing migration of Hindus and Sikhs from the province [K-P],” observed Senator Hamman Das of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal, while talking to The Express Tribune. “Minorities have no place to live in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. They live in state of fear.”
Earlier on Thursday, law enforcement agencies informed the Senate Standing Committee on human rights about the security condition of minorities in the war-torn province.
Additional Secretary (Home Department) K-P Safiullah Jan and Additional Inspector General Police (operation) K-P Ali Babakhail told the lawmakers some organised groups are targeting minorities in the province. But they did not disclose name of these groups due to sensitivity of the matter.
“A fresh crackdown is needed as militants have started regrouping in tribal areas, Peshawar and Swat,” said Babakhail.
Endorsing AIG’s point of view, Safiullah told the committee that only 210 of total 540 platoons of the Frontier Corps are guarding the border while the rest are called by the ministry of interior to Islamabad for security duties.
“Pak-Afghan border is left unattended at various places due to the scarcity of FC personnel.”
“Our community is depressed. Govt’s writ stands nowhere in K-P,” said Senator Amar Jeet of Awami National Party. Both Amar Jeet and Hamman Das criticised the provincial government which, according to them, has failed to protect minorities in the province.
Senator Sardar Ali Khan informed the committee that various non-Muslim legislators have received threats from militants.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2014.
Lawmakers representing minorities in the Senate Panel have demanded of the government to deploy army personnel for the security of non-Muslims in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
“Only Army personnel security can stop ongoing migration of Hindus and Sikhs from the province [K-P],” observed Senator Hamman Das of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal, while talking to The Express Tribune. “Minorities have no place to live in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. They live in state of fear.”
Earlier on Thursday, law enforcement agencies informed the Senate Standing Committee on human rights about the security condition of minorities in the war-torn province.
Additional Secretary (Home Department) K-P Safiullah Jan and Additional Inspector General Police (operation) K-P Ali Babakhail told the lawmakers some organised groups are targeting minorities in the province. But they did not disclose name of these groups due to sensitivity of the matter.
“A fresh crackdown is needed as militants have started regrouping in tribal areas, Peshawar and Swat,” said Babakhail.
Endorsing AIG’s point of view, Safiullah told the committee that only 210 of total 540 platoons of the Frontier Corps are guarding the border while the rest are called by the ministry of interior to Islamabad for security duties.
“Pak-Afghan border is left unattended at various places due to the scarcity of FC personnel.”
“Our community is depressed. Govt’s writ stands nowhere in K-P,” said Senator Amar Jeet of Awami National Party. Both Amar Jeet and Hamman Das criticised the provincial government which, according to them, has failed to protect minorities in the province.
Senator Sardar Ali Khan informed the committee that various non-Muslim legislators have received threats from militants.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2014.