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ISLAMABAD - The worst law and order situation in the country Monday forced even the parliamentarians to demand the army deployment to maintain peace in Karachi and Quetta at least for the first 10-day of Muharrum, besides apprehending that the overall security situation could adversely impact the upcoming general elections.
The third sitting of the 87th Senate session witnessed not only a walkout by Awami National Party (ANP) senators over ever-increasing incidents of targeted killings in Karachi but also hue and cry by legislators over the issue, irrespective of their party affiliations.
Terming it the worst security scenario than restive Waziristan and FATA, legislators called for across the board action to disarm Karachi otherwise, they said, the day was not far when the masses would demand another army intervention.
Besides strongly criticising the government over the situation, senators also called for ban on the militant wings of all the political parties and religious groups having representation in Karachi.
Unfortunately, all these reservations and suggestions came in the absence of the interior minister and the minister of state for interior. In addition, no high official of the Ministry of Interior was present there.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed of PML-Q, speaking on a point of order, categorically stated that the security situation was tantamount to the governments failure and it could harm democracy in the country. If the security situation in the country remains unchanged, it will adversely impact democracy and the upcoming general elections, he said.
He said the time had come for political forces to develop a broad-based consensus through a platform also having representation of the judiciary and the army, before the general elections. He called for an effective anti-terrorism strategy.
He said a Ranger's official had told him that the law-enforcement agencies had apprehended some 8,500 people in Karachi for carrying illicit weapons but they were let free following politicians intervention.
Senator Kalsoom Perveen of BNP-Awami said no body was paying heed towards migration of Liyari residents to other areas while there was no one in the government to inform the countrymen about the reasons of unrest in the country. If the government is not able to control the situation, the army should be called in Karachi and Quetta during Muharrum, she suggested.
Senator Shahi Syed of ANP lamented that his party did not want to invite the army, but the government was doing nothing in this regard. The masses are not ready to accept a democracy that cannot ensure protection of their lives and property. Indeed for the general public, particularly of Karachi, democracy is on way to revenge, he lameted.
Senator Zahid Khan called upon the Sindh government to take bold steps, setting aside all the pressures. "Across the board action to deweaponise the city is inevitable because if weapons are there, nobody can restore peace to Karachi, Zahid said. He said some quarters were deliberately trying to spoil security situation in the country ahead of Muharrum.
Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haidery of JUI-F condemned the killings of religious seminary students in Karachi. Situation is forcing the peace-loving citizens to raise arms, he lamented.
Senator Babar Awan of PPP said uttering mere condemnation words in the House could not solve the problem. He strongly criticised the ministry of interior that, according to him, was just relying on written directions and warnings instead of some concrete action. Today, it is proved that the state has failed to fulfil its primary obligation of protecting lives of its citizens, he said. We are fast losing grip on Karachi, while Balochistan is fast becoming a stateless society. It seems Balochistan is no more a part of Pakistan, he said. He flayed the government for a cold-shoulder response it extended to the top Baloch leader who recently visited Pakistan after ending his self- exile.
The third sitting of the 87th Senate session witnessed not only a walkout by Awami National Party (ANP) senators over ever-increasing incidents of targeted killings in Karachi but also hue and cry by legislators over the issue, irrespective of their party affiliations.
Terming it the worst security scenario than restive Waziristan and FATA, legislators called for across the board action to disarm Karachi otherwise, they said, the day was not far when the masses would demand another army intervention.
Besides strongly criticising the government over the situation, senators also called for ban on the militant wings of all the political parties and religious groups having representation in Karachi.
Unfortunately, all these reservations and suggestions came in the absence of the interior minister and the minister of state for interior. In addition, no high official of the Ministry of Interior was present there.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed of PML-Q, speaking on a point of order, categorically stated that the security situation was tantamount to the governments failure and it could harm democracy in the country. If the security situation in the country remains unchanged, it will adversely impact democracy and the upcoming general elections, he said.
He said the time had come for political forces to develop a broad-based consensus through a platform also having representation of the judiciary and the army, before the general elections. He called for an effective anti-terrorism strategy.
He said a Ranger's official had told him that the law-enforcement agencies had apprehended some 8,500 people in Karachi for carrying illicit weapons but they were let free following politicians intervention.
Senator Kalsoom Perveen of BNP-Awami said no body was paying heed towards migration of Liyari residents to other areas while there was no one in the government to inform the countrymen about the reasons of unrest in the country. If the government is not able to control the situation, the army should be called in Karachi and Quetta during Muharrum, she suggested.
Senator Shahi Syed of ANP lamented that his party did not want to invite the army, but the government was doing nothing in this regard. The masses are not ready to accept a democracy that cannot ensure protection of their lives and property. Indeed for the general public, particularly of Karachi, democracy is on way to revenge, he lameted.
Senator Zahid Khan called upon the Sindh government to take bold steps, setting aside all the pressures. "Across the board action to deweaponise the city is inevitable because if weapons are there, nobody can restore peace to Karachi, Zahid said. He said some quarters were deliberately trying to spoil security situation in the country ahead of Muharrum.
Senator Abdul Ghafoor Haidery of JUI-F condemned the killings of religious seminary students in Karachi. Situation is forcing the peace-loving citizens to raise arms, he lamented.
Senator Babar Awan of PPP said uttering mere condemnation words in the House could not solve the problem. He strongly criticised the ministry of interior that, according to him, was just relying on written directions and warnings instead of some concrete action. Today, it is proved that the state has failed to fulfil its primary obligation of protecting lives of its citizens, he said. We are fast losing grip on Karachi, while Balochistan is fast becoming a stateless society. It seems Balochistan is no more a part of Pakistan, he said. He flayed the government for a cold-shoulder response it extended to the top Baloch leader who recently visited Pakistan after ending his self- exile.
