ISLAMABAD, Feb 10: The government on Friday said that Ashura bomb blast in Hangu, which killed 27 mourners and injured 40 others, was a terrorist act.
Senate Chairman Muhammadmian Soomro, who chaired the proceedings, while commenting on a senator’s statement said: “If President Gen Pervez Musharraf’s government was illegal and unconstitutional (as alleged by him) then this very house (Senate) also becomes unconstitutional.”
His observations came when Senator Sanaullah Baloch said that Baloch leaders would never submit to Gen Musharraf’s illegal and unconstitutional regime.
Minister of State for Interior Dr Shahzad Wasim said that foolproof measures were adopted during the Muharram mourning days and except the blast in Hangu no untoward incident was reported from other parts of the country.
He said that while the federal security agencies were geared up, the provincial governments also took affective steps for security during Muharram processions.
He said the Hangu blast was followed by incidents arson, shooting and attacks on public property. The FC was mobilized and army troops were called in to take control of the situation and restore order.
The provincial government, he said, had ordered a judicial inquiry and announced Rs100,000 each as compensation for the heirs of the dead and Rs50,000 each for the injured.
He said that there was complete sectarian harmony in the country. Mr Wasim said that those responsible for the blast would soon be brought to task.
Raza Mohammad Raza of the Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, through a point of order, accused security agencies of raiding the house of PMAP chairman Mehmud Khan Achakzai on the night between February 7 and 8, and abducting his security guards.
He warned the government for severe reaction if the guards of Mr Achakzai were not released without further delay.
Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) Senator Amanullah Kanrani said that the security agencies after strenuous efforts have succeeded three days ago to occupy Dera Bugti town and setting on fire ablaze the house of Sardar Bugti. He alleged that later the security agencies started looting the town.
He said: “We condemn what happened to the town of 30,000 people three days ago in the strongest terms.”
Sanaullah Baloch warned that despite all repressive actions of the government, Baloch leaders would never submit to the hegemony of what he termed the ‘illegal and unconstitutional regime’ of Gen Musharraf.
He alleged that Chaudhrys (without elaborating) had made the entire country hostage.
Minister of State for Petroleum Mir Naseer Mengal dismissed the allegations by lawmakers that some agencies were involved in operation in Dera Bugti.
Saadia Abbasi of the PML-N reminded the government about a senior Shia leader who had accused anti-Shia elements of involvement in the Hangu blast on the instigation of Musharraf government.
Senator Wasim said: “Certain elements who intended to disrupt peace and order in the country were involved whereas neither Shia nor Sunnis were enemies of each others.”
