Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly was told on Wednesday that Pakistan suffered greatly from the war on terror and as many as 5,740 people lost their lives over the past six years, of which 5,332 were civilians.

The Frontier Constabulary and Khasadar force lost 234 and 174 men respectively. Minister of States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch apprised the NA about the human and monetary cost of Pakistan’s war against terrorism along the Pak-Afghan border over the past six years.

According to Baloch, around 6,427 people were injured. Out of them, 153 injured belonged to Levies force, while 132 were from the Khasadar force.

A total of 6,142 civilians were also wounded in the conflict. A total of Rs 3,480.55 million were set aside as compensation for families and legal heirs of those who were killed and injured, according to the report presented in the National Assembly. Out of that, Rs 2.823 billion went to grieving families whereas Rs 656.95 million were disbursed among the injured.

The minister also talked about the cost of the Citizen’s Losses Compensation Programme (CLCP), which promises civilians reimbursement for damaged property.

Rs 400,000 were handed over to people whose properties were fully damaged, whereas Rs 160,000 were paid for partially-damaged properties.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party lawmakers staged a walkout over “forced disappearance” of three close aides of former president Asif Zardari.

On a point of order, Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah said that the “missing persons” must be produced before the court if they were wanted for either corruption or terrorism.

“The parliament had passed a bill unanimously and legislated that any person arrested on suspicion of being involved in a crime must be produced within 24 hours before the concerned court,” he said.

“Enforced disappearances are weakening the parliament and causing harm to national integrity,” he underlined, adding that the PPP has always believed in the supremacy of parliament. Shah said further the “enforced disappearances” would create concern among the people and ultimately they would lose their confidence in the institutions.

Over prolonged power load shedding, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif claimed that 6500 megawatt power would be added to the electricity system by the end of this year.

To a calling attention notice, Asif said that currently the country was facing a power shortfall of 5200 megawatt, however, the electricity supply situation would gradually start improving from today (Thursday).

He added that the ongoing severe power crisis would be overcome in the next eight to 10 days after which there would be no unannounced load shedding from May.

“Grab me by the collar if I fail to include electricity in the grid until December,” he continued.

The minister also claimed that Neelum Jehlum and Tarbela 4 will also be included into the system in February 2018, adding that Nandipur Power Project will provide 525 megawatts in May.

He said that Bheki Power Plant of 760 megawatt is being inaugurated in Sheikhupura whereas some power plants of 2200 megawatt were closed for maintenance.

Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz informed the NA that 11,764 Pakistanis were currently detained or imprisoned abroad. He said all diplomatic missions abroad were providing the imprisoned and detained Pakistanis necessary legal and financial assistance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Pakistan’s Community Welfare and Education Fund was also being used to pay lawyers fee, fines and the cost of repatriation after the completion of their sentences or release from detention.

To a question about Bulgaria, Aziz said the 105 Pakistanis were currently detained there, six had been convicted while the remaining 99 were in custody for “illegal crossing” or “overstaying”. He added that despite the government’s offer to provide them with legal assistance, most of them had showed intentions of moving to other countries instead of returning to Pakistan.

Although diplomatic efforts are being made for their early repatriation, Aziz asserted that the exact time of return remained unclear because of the laws in that country.