ISLAMABAD: The opposition senators castigated the government on Monday for its ‘failure’ to take action against the banned outfits in accordance with its own National Internal Security Policy (NISP) and National Action Plan to counter terrorism.

Taking part in a debate on the internal security policy on the private members’ day, the senators from the PPP, ANP and PML-Q lashed out at the government for “allowing the proscribed organisations to continue their operations in the country without any hindrance”.

Also read: Senate demands govt take steps to combat terrorism

Initiating the debate on his own motion, PPP’s Farhatullah Babar regretted that members of banned organisations like Maulana Masood Azhar of Jaish-i-Mohammad were roaming about freely right under the nose of rulers.

He said under the law passed in March last year banned organisations could not be resurrected under a different name. A public declaration by Asmatullah Muawiya of Punjabi Taliban to direct guns at Afghanistan without being challenged by the state demonstrated that “we still cherish dubious external security goals”, he said.

Mr Babar criticised the government for mentioning the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as a law-enforcement agency in the NISP document.

“I want to ask the government to tell us that under which law the ISI is operating in the country?” the PPP leader said, adding: “the ISI is not a law-enforcement agency since parliament has not so far passed any such legislation.”

He said the NISP unrealistically promised to reform 23,000 Madressahs in just one year, complete legal reforms in six months and bring all 33 intelligence agencies under one roof.

ANP’s Zahid Khan pointed out that he was surprised to see the pictures of Jamaat-i-Islami members meeting Hafiz Saeed of the Jamaatud Dawa. He expressed surprise over the interior ministry’s response to a question the previous day that no Madressah in Punjab was receiving foreign funds.

He termed the PML-N government a ‘continuation of the Ziaul Haq regime’ which introduced Jihadi culture in the country in the 1980s.

PML-Q’s Kamil Ali Agha asked why the military courts had not been set up so far despite the fact that parliament had already approved the 21st Amendment. “Where have you set up military courts? Have these been established on Mars?”

He alleged that even the government members were seen meeting people of banned organisations.

The PML-Q leader criticised JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for opposing military courts and action against Madressahs despite sitting on treasury benches. He asked the Maulana to quit the government and the prime minister to get rid of the JUI-F to maintain national unity in the fight against terrorism.

Winding up the debate, Minister of State for Interior Balighur Rehman claimed that the internal security policy was being implemented in letter and spirit and it had started producing results.

He said that intelligence-sharing had improved after the announcement of the NISP in January and the agencies had passed on 74 security threats to the provinces and other relevant departments.

He said cellular companies had started biometric verification of SIMs and 16.3 million SIMs had already been verified. Similarly, he said, the cellular companies had already blocked over 20m SIMs.

Earlier, the house unanimously passed a resolution moved by JUI-F’s Talha Mehmood calling upon the government to “take effective steps to control corruption in the country”.

PPP’s Farooq H. Naek introduced the Torture and Custodial Death (Punishment) Bill, 2014, which was referred to the relevant standing committee.

The house sent the Corporate Rehabilitation Bill, 2014, moved by PPP’s Salim Mandviwala to the committee concerned.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2015

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