ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The government on Thursday informed the Senate that the recent surge in suicide bombings and terrorist attacks was linked to the military operation against Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa.
Winding up a debate on the law and order situation, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao brushed aside an impression that the operation had been launched under pressure from the United States.
The minister defended the operation, saying that the government had exercised maximum restraint and was left with no choice except to use force against Lal Masjid clerics who had abducted people, set on fire a government building and illegally occupied Children’s Library.
Minister of State for Information Senator Tariq Azeem Khan said the government and representatives of Wafaqul Madaris were close to signing an agreement on the Lal Majid issue, but no agreement had been signed.
In their speeches, opposition lawmakers accused President Gen Pervez Musharraf of having failed on all fronts — providing good governance, promoting inter-provincial harmony and eradicating corruption. Besides, he broke promises with the nation. They said the president was liable to be impeached by parliament under article 47 of the Constitution.
Azam Khan Swati of the MMA held Gen Musharraf responsible for the bloodshed during the Lal Masjid operation and spread of extremism and terrorism in the country.
Kamran Murtaza, also of the MMA, criticised the government for the poor law and order in Balochistan.
Leader of Opposition Senator Mian Raza Rabbani accused the Musharraf government of violating many articles of the Constitution. He said that under Article 155, the Council of Common Interests was competent body to resolve water dispute and the formation of two committees on the subject was unconstitutional.
Mr Rabbani said the appointment of the Attorney General of Pakistan had been made in contravention of the provisions of Article 155. The president, he said, violated Article 56(3) by not addressing the joint session of parliament for the past four years, which was necessary at the beginning of each parliamentary year.
Senator Abdur Rahim Mandokhel said the government had failed to foster peace and reduce the threat of extremism and Talibanisation in tribal areas despite huge deployment of troops. He said that dictatorship was the major cause of terrorism and the only remedy was restoration of democracy.
Earlier, the government laid in the house three ordinances, The Banks (Nationalisation) (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2007, The Islamabad Capital Territory Private Educational Institutions (Regulation and Promotion) Ordinance, 2007 and The West Pakistan Regulation and Control of Loudspeakers and Sound Amplifiers (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2007.