ISLAMABAD: Amid criticism over its non-seriousness regarding implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP), the government informed the Senate on Wednesday that the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta) had been functioning without having formally appointed staff for six years.

“Since Nacta has no service rules, the government cannot make appointments in the authority,” Minister of State for Interior Balighur Rehman said.

He was responding, on behalf of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, to questions asked by lawmakers of the opposition and other parties.

Mr Rehman said a requisition for posting seven officers on deputation had been sent to the Establishment Division. Two officers have already joined Nacta while the posting of others is under process.

He said the vacant posts were filled either through posting on deputation from the surplus pool of the Establishment Division or through fresh recruitment. “Fresh recruitment is carried out once an organisation has its service rules and Nacta being a new organisation has no such rules.”

The minister said new service rules had been prepared and would soon be approved by the authority. But he declined to give any timeframe.

Nacta was established in 2009 with the aim of gathering intelligence reports from all agencies and to devise and implement a counter-terrorism strategy. Its powers were increased through a parliamentary legislation in 2013.

Mr Rehman said the Finance Division had allocated Rs1.066 billion while Nacta had demanded Rs1.886bn.

The question about recruitments was asked by Senator Talha Mehmood of JUI-F.

Expressing his surprise over the minister’s reply, Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani said a full-fledged operation against terrorists was under way in the country and rules for an organisation like Nacta were yet to be framed.

He urged the government, in the presence of Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, to convene an in-camera sitting of the Senate to discuss issues of foreign policy and implementation of NAP. He asked Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq to convey the advice to the prime minister.

BANNED OUTFITS: Later during a debate on a report on “the observance and implementation of the principles of policy in relation to the affairs of the ment for not taking action against Jihadi and banned outfits.

PPP’s Farhatullah Babar alleged that there were still elements in the state machinery which supported militants to advance their own security and foreign policy agenda. He criticised the government for not taking any action against the banned outfits operating with different names.

Mr Babar said the constitution provided complete state protection to minorities, but religion was being used as a tool to victimise them.

“How can the minorities be protected in a country where banned organisations are operating without any fear?” Hasil Bizenjo of the National Party wondered.

“Everyday we see creation of a new Jihadi organisation. A new organisation, Jaish-i-Islam, has come into existence which claims killing of Shias in the country,” he said, adding that the government should be clear-headed towards such organisations.

Mr Bizenjo said the constitution talked about full participation of women in national life, but how could this be done when 80 per cent of them were illiterate.

PML-N’s Abdul Qayyum said military training should be made compulsory as it could reduce burden on the army.

Mushahid Hussain of the PML-Q and Muzaffar Hussain Shah of the PML-F called for strengthening the country’s relations with the Muslim world.

Mushahid Hussain said it was a matter of concern that Arab states had played a key role in the recent defeat of Pakistan in the elections in the UN Human Rights Council.

CLIMATE CHANGE: The senators also took part in a debate on an adjournment motion moved by PPP’s Sherry Rehman on Pakistan’s negotiation plan for the coming Paris Summit on Climate Change and other related matters.

Accusing the government of making no preparations for the summit where Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is also expected to deliver a speech, Ms Rehman advised the government to provide a copy of the policy prepared by the previous PPP government to Mr Sharif which he could use in his speech.

She criticised the government for not discussing the issue of climate change in parliament or in its committees despite the fact that the country had been facing serious climate change challenges.

According to Ms Rehman, Pakistan is among top 10 most polluted countries. She also criticised the government for not appointing any minister for climate change after resignation of Mushahidullah Khan in August this year.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2015