Senaters demanded clarification on Peshawer school attack
31 December, 2014
ISLAMABAD: Asking the government to take appropriate measures against terrorists, members of the Senate on Tuesday 30 December 2014 demanded that either Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif or Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar should come and windup the debate over the Peshawar school attack.
“This is a serious matter and the government should take parliament into confidence. Apart from the prime minister and interior minister, the Senate would not listen to any other person including state minister for interior,” Opposition Leader in the Senate Aitizaz Ahsan said. “After the Peshawar incident, the government did nothing except forming several committees and no practical implementation was seen on the ground that created uncertainty among the people. Their absence will create tensions in parliament,” he added.
Senator Aitzaz said that the government would be the first beneficiary if it won the war against terror, adding that it would be better for the prime minister to take parliament into confidence. Senator Raza Rabbani said that parliament was the strength of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, adding that it would be better if should windup the debate over Peshawar incident. Rabbani said that terrorism could only be ended through the ways set by parliament.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhaid said that the government has completely sidelined the Senate in important decisions.
Taking part in the debate, Senator Saeed Ghani said that the whole nation was in deep shock and grief over the sad demise of 134 innocent children at the Army Public School, Peshawar. “Every citizen of the country felt sorrow over the killings of little angels,” he said, adding that the political parties and their leaders should strongly fight terrorism.
Senator Ghani said that stern action should be taken against the sympathisers and apologists of the Taliban, adding that terrorists were killing the innocent people to spread fear among the masses. Opposing the formation of military courts, he said that the government could not remove any judge due to their inefficiency, adding that terrorism could not be eliminated through formation of military courts. “Do not put the Pakistan Army in a controversial decision,” he said. Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Senator Chaudhry Jaffar Iqbal said that he has no words for the condemnation of Peshawar incident. “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reached Peshawar immediately after the incident and took on-board all political parties on the issue,” he added. Senator Iqbal said that the whole nation should stand against terrorism. He stressed the need of national spirit for the development and prosperity of the country.
Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Senator Rubina Khalid demanded blocking of all unregistered SIMs as they were being used by terrorists in most of their activities. She said that the government should take action against the cellular companies that issued unregistered SIMs. She also demanded a prompt action against Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz for his pro Taliban stance.
Senator Khalida Parveen said that the Peshawar incident was the worst example of barbarism, adding that terrorism was a serious issue and it was spreading in different parts of the country. Senator Mukhtiar Dhamra said that terrorism in the country was born during the past regimes of dictators. He said that the PPP had rendered sacrifices of their leaders for the sake of country, adding that Benazir Bhutto was also assassinated by the terrorists.
Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) Senator Kamil Ali Agha demanded strong against terrorism. “The policies must be implemented in letter and spirit,” he said, adding that the incident of Army Public School was a tragedy of the worst kind.
Senator Sardar Ali Khan said his heart bled for the victims of the Army Public School. He paid tribute to the Pakistan Army for their sacrifices rendered in the war against terror and said that Afghan refugees should be repatriated.
PPP Senator Ahmed Hassan said that according five million Afghan refugees were still residing in the country, adding that a proper policy for Afghan refugees should be made.
PPP Senator Taj Haider stressed preventive measures to avoid recurrence of more terror incidents. “Intelligence network should also be made more efficient and people should be asked to keep vigil around them,” he said.
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