The “flawed” anti-terror strategy is criticised by members of parliament.
The attack on the Peshawar mosque is condemned by members of both chambers of Parliament.
ISLAMABAD:
While denouncing the Peshawar mosque attack a day earlier, lawmakers in both chambers of parliament stated on Tuesday that the National Security Committee (NSC), the nation’s highest body for security and international policy, would decide on a military action to expel terrorists from the country.
Additionally, they requested that the administration hold a counterterrorism policy discussion on February 8 during the joint session of parliament.
Afternoon prayers were being held on Monday when a suicide bomber detonated himself at a mosque in Peshawar’s Police Lines, killing at least 100 people and injuring almost 170 others.
Shahadat Awan, the minister of state for law and justice, insisted that everyone in the country agreed that the best way to deal with terrorists was to employ an iron fist during the upper house session, which was presided over by its chairman Sadiq Sanjrani.
He called on all political groups to band together and take action to combat terrorism.
He continued by saying that the terrorist attack at the mosque in Peshawar would have been avoided in 2020 if the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters had not been freed.
Raza Rabbani, a senator for the PPP, claimed that the government had just informed the parliamentary committee that discussions with the TTP were still ongoing and that no approval had been requested for this reason.
He demanded that a parliamentary investigation be launched since the nation had not been given the benefit of the doubt.
He alleged that a “jirga” had been “outsourced” to undertake negotiations with the outlawed group and questioned the tribal committee’s legitimacy.
On February 8, Rabbani urged that the topic of counterterrorism policy be covered during the joint session of parliament.
The PPP senator stated that after calling the Senate Committee of the entire House session, the threat of terrorism should be examined.
He lamented that the primary concern of the political parties was whether or not elections would be held in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in 90 days and urged them to “sit in parliament” and engage in a “national debate.”
The need of reaching an agreement on the nation’s economy and the supremacy of the Constitution was emphasised by Rabbani.
Saifullah Abro, a senator for PTI, bemoaned the “political point-scoring” that was going on even before the explosion victims were buried.
Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi of the PPP expressed his sorrow at the incident and asked who was to blame.
Senator Tahir Bizenjo of the National Party claimed that the attack in a “safe zone” appeared to be a “failure” of the security organisations.
Bizenjo said that the counter-terrorism strategy needed to be reframed because terrorist attacks in Balochistan and K-P had intensified following the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan.
He continued by saying that the same thing happened under the administrations of former military leaders Gen. Ziaul Haq and Gen. (retd.) Pervez Musharraf.
Mushahid Hussain Syed, a senator for the PML-N, claimed that the inability of the State to develop a counterterrorism strategy was a result of the fact that the nation had been at war for the past 43 years.
The effects of the $5 billion Afghan jihad are now in front of us, he continued.
He emphasised the need for a “clear” Afghan policy as the foundation for formulating a counterterrorism strategy.
Despite criticism, he claimed that former military ruler Gen. Zia’s ideas were carried out, warning that Pakistan would be destroyed by the “thirst for power.”
In a covert allusion to the “powerful circles,” JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza stated that “everyone knew” who created Pakistan’s policies and that “they” were unwilling to alter them.
“Real democracy in the country is needed to overhaul the system,” he demanded.
PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhry made reference to Pakistan’s participation in the Soviet-Afghan war when he declared that it was bearing the weight of the 45-year-old struggle.
The meeting was later adjourned until February 3.
During the National Assembly session, the MNAs decided to develop a thorough anti-terrorism plan.
The Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf presided over a meeting of the lower chamber of parliament.
For the Peshawar attack victims who lost their lives, the House presented Fateha.
Speaking at the event, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif emphasised the need to build consensus for a Zarb-e-Azb-like operation to combat terrorism.
He stated that the NSC will make the decision regarding the operation to remove terrorists from the nation.
“The NSC will make a choice in this matter. Such issues can be decided at a forum capable of making such significant judgements, “Added he.
Asif asked all political groups to band together to combat terrorists who were aiming their attacks not at a specific sect or demographic of society but at the entire country.
He noted that “the battle that was fought in Afghanistan has reached our streets, neighbourhoods, and schools.”
Asif compared the Peshawar mosque explosion to the 2014 Army Public School tragedy that occurred in the same city and claimed that since leaders from all parties were on the same page, a similar agreement was required now.
The defence minister questioned, “Who would be held accountable for the Peshawar [mosque] incident,” adding that we must first take care of our own house.
Because of our own mistakes and missteps, as well as the fact that the seeds of terrorism were sown during the authoritarian regimes, he continued, “soul-searching and self-accountability have become vital.”
According to the minister, Pakistan waged a bloody fight against terrorism from 2008 to 2013 and suffered great losses.
“We were told that we could communicate with these individuals, or terrorists, two years ago. Later, they were granted permission to remain in the nation, “He asserted.
Noor Alam Khan, a disgruntled PTI MNA, requested that the army chief brief the legislature on the Peshawar mosque incident.
The prime, the head of the army, and the director general of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) would also visit parliament to discuss the subject of terrorism, according to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.
