ISLAMABAD: Banned militant organisations in Punjab province have contacts with Uzbek militants who charge $40,000 for carrying out terrorist attacks in Pakistan, a federal minister told the National Assembly on Tuesday.

During Tuesday’s session, Federal Minister Sheikh Waqas Akram told the assembly that the Uzbek militants were in contact with the banned outfits in Punjab, adding that the members of these banned organisations could be seen wearing shirts of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU).

“These (Uzbek) militants demand a payment of US$40,000 to perform terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil,” he told the assembly.

Akram, who belongs to ruling coalition partner the Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q), said Interior Minister Rehman Malik should stop “spinning tales” and take definitive action against these banned militant outfits.

The minister’s disclosure comes after a brazen attack on Peshawar’s Bacha Khan Airport and military airbase on Saturday by militants said to be foreigners of Dagestan and Uzbek origins.

Uzbek militants are known to corroborate with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in battles against the Pakistani security forces, which include an attack on Bannu jail conducted to release Taliban inmates and the high-profile prisoner Adnan Rashid.

NA Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi chaired Tuesday’s assembly session held here in Islamabad.

Bills introduced in NA

The Census (Amendment) Bill, 2012 provides to amend the Census Ordinance, 1959. It was moved by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) member Yasmeen Rehman.

The Acid Throwing and Burn Crime Bill, 2012, targeted against the increasing number of acid throwing and acid burn crimes on women and children, was also moved during the session by Dr. Attiya Inayatullah and others.

The chair referred the bills to the concerned standing committees.

A minute of silence was observed during the session for the Swedish woman murdered in Lahore recently.

The assembly session was then adjourned until 11am on Wednesday.