Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Legislators in Upper House of parliament on Friday demanded adequate measures to ensure security of the election candidates, particularly those who were already receiving threats.

In the wake of deadly attacks on various election candidates in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, most of the senators were of the view that it appeared to be a well-planned conspiracy hatched to sabotage the general elections scheduled for July 25.

Caretaker Interior Minister Azam Khan told the Upper House that necessary instructions had been issued to the provincial governments to provide security to the election candidates. However, he pointed out that law and order was a devolved subject after the 18th amendment. “Federal government is still providing all possible support to the Election Commission of Pakistan and the provincial governments for smooth and peaceful conduct of general elections,” he said, adding that security related requirements of the provincial governments were being fulfilled.

The senators belonging to different parties condemned the attack near the convoy of Akram Khan Durrani in Bannu. They expressed serious concerns over the security situation in the country. Senate chairman asked the interior minister to submit a detailed report on Bannu suicide attack and also give a briefing to the House on Monday.

Responding to points of different members on the general elections, interim Law Minister Barrister Ali Zafar said the caretaker government was mandated by the law to assist the ECP in conduct of free, fair and transparent elections. He said the people would see for themselves the sincerity and integrity of the caretaker government when the general elections are conducted on July 25. He said parliament had given complete autonomy to the ECP by improving election related laws over the last few years. He said the caretakers were playing a neutral role. He rejected the notion that the caretaker government was supporting someone in the election.

Meanwhile, the Senate passed a motion authorising the chairman to constitute a special committee on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. The House also passed another motion authorising the chairman to constitute a special committee to examine the special audit report on causes of decline in tax collection of tobacco sector. The motions were moved by opposition leader Sherry Rehman.

Responding to a calling attention moved by Sherry Rehman regarding inclusion of Pakistan in the FATF’s grey list, Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar said a detailed action plan had been formulated to be able to comply with the financial task force’s framework to address issues relating to money laundering and terror financing. She said the good news was that Pakistan was not on the blacklist but to steer out of the grey list, the country would have to illustrate compliance with the FATF’s framework.

The House will now meet on Monday at 3 pm.

Published in Daily Times, July 14^th 2018.