Daily Times

A legislative body of Upper House of Parliament on Friday demanded the details of the blast at Quetta’s Hazarganji locality, from the Ministry of Interior and Government of Balochistan.

Expressing grief over the loss of about 20 human lives and sympathies with the families, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior Rehman Malik said these incidents should not be labeled as sectarian as the enemy was involved in it. “The committee has asked the interior ministry for a briefing over the incident, which has sought some time for it,” Senator Malik said.

The members of the committee remarked that fake national identity cards and car number plates were a major cause of the incidents of terrorism. “Even the vehicles with fake number plates enter in the Parliament House,” the members said. “An identity card is like a profile across the world, however, absence of such system in Pakistan creates problems,” the parliament body’s member further observed. The standing committee also decided to hold a special session over the terrorism incident in Quetta.

The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Senator Rehman Malik here at the Parliament House and was attended among others by Senators Azam Khan Swati, Dr. Shahzad Wasim, Kalsoom Parveen, Muhammad Javed Abbasi, Asad Ali Khan Junejo, Kauda Babar and Sardar Shafique Tareen. Additional Secretary Interior, Chairman and D.G. NADRA, DIG Police Sindh, DPO Hripur and senior officials from M/o Law & Justice also attended the meeting.

The committee was of the view that behind terrorist activities in Balochistan, the involvement of enemy countries could not be ignored as such blasts were aimed at inciting sectarian clashes in the country to destabilize Pakistan. The Shia Hazara community of Balochistan was being targeted continuously since long and it was time to bring an end to their killings by taking fierce actions against terrorists and banned outfits.

Members of the Committee urged the Ministry of Interior to implement National Action Plan (NAP) in its true letter and spirit. Senator Sardar Shafiq Tareen said that it was not for the first time that Hazara community was being targeted but they were under continuous attacks by the terrorists.

Senator Kauda Babar while expressing great concern over the blast said it was time to uproot terrorism from the country. He said involvement of foreign hand in terrorist activities inside Balochistan must not be ignored. Senator Kalsoom Parveen said that the number of victims can be increased as on Friday a large number of vendors and buyers come to sell & buy vegetables for the whole week.

Matter of Opening of NADRA offices in Mali, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique: The Committee considered and discussed in detail wherein Rehman Malik directed the Ministry of Interior to order opening of NADRA’s offices in above countries. He said he has received dozens of complaints from Pakistanis residing in the Mali, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique that they were facing unavoidable problems in getting their CNIC and registering their children. He said Pakistanis living there have to travel to other adjacent countries for getting their documents. The NADRA Chairman briefed the committee about feasibility of opening NADRA offices in above said countries. The Chairman Committee directed to depute the services of an employee in respective embassies of these countries to facilitate the Pakistani nationals there.

Briefing and report by Sindh Police on death of five persons in Qasr-e-Naz Karachi: The Committee discussed the matter of death of five persons including four children and their mother hailing from the Province of Balochistan in Qasr-e-Naz, Karachi. The DIG Police, Sindh briefed the Committee about the incident wherein he stated that the Police rushed to the crime scene after the incident reported to the Police Department. He said that initially along with Sindh Food Authority, the death was investigated for food poisoning and all the related persons were taken into custody. However, later on, some white powder was found in the room which was identified as Phosphine. He informed the Committee that the actual cause of death of the children and mother was the phosphine chemical which was used for the purpose of fuming in the room. He stated that so far nine people were taken into custody and the Police was further investigating the matter.

Murder and sexual assault on seven year old boy in Khanpur, Haripur: The DPO Haripur Dr. Zahidullah briefed the Committee in detail about murder and sexual assault of Umer Nawaz aged 7/8 years. He briefed the Committee that upon the registration of complaint against accused, Police immediately reached the spot, crime scene was preserved, relevant evidence was obtained, and the crime scene was photographed, video tapped and geo tagged.