ISLAMABAD: Members of the opposition and the treasury benches in the Senate on Monday demanded the government take practical steps to counter internal threats the country in facing.

Commenting on the debate regarding the terrorist attack on Army Public School in Peshawar, the senators expressed their concerns regarding the performance of the govt and law enforcement agencies to counter the terrorist’s activities.

PPP Senator Farhatullah Babar criticised the leadership of the PML-N govt, which he claimed had failed to implement the national security policy to counter terrorism.

“According to media reports, the prime minister visited General Headquarters (GHQ) to attend a meeting which was chaired by the COAS but not himself, while the COAS is also signing the death warrants of terrorists and visiting Afghanistan with proofs against terrorists,” the PPP senator said.

“It looks as though the political leadership has shifted from Islamabad to Rawalpindi to fight against terrorism…I believe that we are still not serious regarding the war on terror,” Babar added.

“We must clear our minds and understand the reality that we don’t have any external enemy but Pakistan is facing an internal enemy in the shape of TTP,” the PPP senator claimed.

MQM Senator Col (Rtd) Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said that the govt had failed to counter activities of the terrorists and should take action against Taliban supporters and sympathisers.

JUI-F Senator Mulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri also said that the govt should take strict action against terrorists.

“The JUI-F leadership has also survived terrorist attacks…we believe that terrorists don’t have any religion and are in fact the killers of humanity,” the JUI-F senator said.

Senator Mir Hasil Baziengo of National Party, Senator Qayum Soomro of PPP and Haji Adeel of ANP also demanded the government develop a strategy and take practical measures to fight terrorism.