Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: A legislative body of Upper House of Parliament on Wednesday condemned a recent wave of terrorist attacks on personnel of Law Enforcement Agencies particularly FC personnel who were being targeted continuously in Balochistan and offered fateha for those who were martyred in the recent attacks.

FC Balochistan had rendered numerous sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, Senate Standing Committee Chairman A Rehman Malik. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator A Rehman Malik at the Parliament House and was attended among others by Senator Javed Abbasi, Senator Mian Ateeq Sheikh, Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed and Senator Kauda Babar.

Interior secretary, National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) chairman, NADRA director general, Inspector General Police Islamabad, DIG Security Islamabad, additional IGP Punjab, DIG FC Peshawar, DIG Punjab Rangers, DIG Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, chief commissioner Islamabad and other prominent officials attended the meeting and apprised the committee on relevant issues.

While condemning the terrorist attacks in Balochistan, Rehman Malik said that the Indian intelligence agency, Research & Analysis Wing, was involved in terrorist activities in Balochistan and there was dire need of national solidarity to foil such nefarious designs of India. He said that he appreciates US government for enlisting Indian terrorists organisation RSS in the foreign terrorists organisation of whose member was Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that Narendra Modi was not only the product of the RSS but an active member of this terrorist organisation. He said he has been advocating since last many years that RSS is a terrorist organisation and should be enlisted in Foreign Terrorists Organisations (FTO) and the prime minister whom he always calls “Chief Terrorist” should be declared as terrorist by world community for his brutalities against Muslims in Gujrat, Kashmir and other parts of India. The committee expressed satisfaction over US decision of enlisting the RSS in FTO.

In the meeting, a serious notice of the incident, in which three sisters were killed in Cholistan was taken and directed Punjab police to submit a comprehensive report of the incident. Malik said that he was shocked by the media reports that the father of three missing daughters was calling police for help for the rescue of his daughters but police didn’t respond to his call. He said that the responsible should be identified and must be dealt under the law, adding that it was the responsibility of the state to protect its citizens particularly in such a dangerous situation.

While taking serious notice of leakage of sensitive information from NADRA, Malik expressed great concerns over it saying that today when elections were coming close, such allegations were very serious. He said that if the allegations against NADRA were true then those who are responsible of the breach should be taken to task as per law.

Ministry of Interior secretary briefed the committee on the ministry functions and responsibilities and future plans including working of its attached/subordinate departments. He also briefed the committee regarding arrangements made by the Ministry of Interior during Elections 2018.

He stated that MOI’s mission was to assist the Election Commission of Pakistan to conduct free and fair elections. He stated that in view of the current security situation in Pakistan, campaigning and elections faced numerous threats and challenges that included attacks on candidates and disruption of communication networks. He also asserted that possibility of cross-border terrorist activity could not be ruled out.

Regarding sensitivity of polling stations, MOI special secretary revealed that provinces had already provided the ministry with relative information.

Malik questioned the criterion that determined the sensitivity ratio of polling stations in Pakistan.

He was of the opinion that in the current scenario it was essential that every polling station be treated as sensitive. He instructed the MOI to submit a complete report regarding this.

The committee chairman further asserted the importance of a monitoring cell that would provide complete information on the polling process.

The ministry assured the committee chairman of 24/7 uninterrupted monitoring of the elections via a control room at that would be situated at the MOI.

The committee chairman stated that he and other committee members would like to review arrangements at the Monitoring Cell.

While discussing the prisons and situation of prisoners in Pakistani jails, Malik urged the privileged class to come forward and help those prisoners in pursuing their cases and paying their fines in order to get them freed. He said that many poor were suffering in jails due to poverty. Meanwhile, Malik announced to contribute one month’s salary of committee members in the proposed fund for the poor prisoners and was endorsed by the members.

Published in Daily Times, June 21^st 2018.