ISLAMABAD: The senators from ruling and opposition benches Tuesday demanded adopting of practical steps to maintain law and order in the country.

The house resumed discussion on a motion moved by Senator Tahir Mashhadi and Senator Hamza on law and order situation in the country particularly the killings in Karachi and sectarian incidents in Balochistan, Karachi and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Resuming discussion on the motion, chief whip Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said the bomb blasts, attacks on security forces, target killings, recovery of mutilated bodies and kidnapping for ransom had become a routine.

He said that people were being killed due to the reasons yet unknown.

The kidnapping for ransom had become a profitable business and influential people were involved in this unlawful practice, he claimed and added no culprit had yet been arrested for such crimes.

He said that law and order was a grave issue that could not be resolved by merely levelling allegations against banned outfits, rather it required pragmatic steps.

Haidri said peace can only be restored in Balochistan if target killings, kidnapping for ransom and recovery of mutilated bodies is controlled.

Usman Saifullah said every institution should work in its constitutional ambit without breaching any other's right.

Hasil Bizenjo claimed that armed groups with a total strength of 30,000 were functioning in Karachi. “In presence of such criminal groups, how peace could be maintained,” he questioned.

Bizenjo said that so far, 1100 settlers, 350 informers and over 500 personnel of security agencies have been killed in Balochistan.

He said it was the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to arrest criminals involved in such heinous crimes.