News
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Senators outraged as ECP, SC mum over threats* Lawmakers slam govt for providing commandos to former dictator g Interior minister says security will be provided to politicians after consultation with ECP
By Ijaz Kakakhel
ISLAMABAD: The Upper House on Tuesday expressed serious reservations over the silence by state institutions and political parties against terrorists who threatened members of three liberal political parties – the Awami National Party (ANP), the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movemnet (MQM).
They said that such a silence reflected that some conspirators wanted to keep the liberal parties away from mainstream politics, as was the case in 2002.
The candidates of these three political parties were targeted during the scrutiny process and other steps taken by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
“What will be the credibility of this upcoming general election if candidates of these three political parties are kept away from holding public gathering and political campaigns?” said Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel of the ANP.
Senator Raza Rabbani of the PPP said his party’s founder preferred to sacrifice his life but never made any compromise on principles. “Why the security of formers premiers, chief ministers and other leaders was withdrawn despite threats to their lives?”
He regretted that a person who abrogated the constitution twice; disgraced the judiciary; and had been nominated in the murder cases of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and Benazir Bhutto was provided commandos for security.
Senator Zahid Khan of the ANP was of the view that dictators had always created havoc in the country.
He said the inspector general (IG) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was changed because some of his relatives were contesting elections. “But the new IG’s close relative is also contesting elections. Where is the level playing field for the upcoming election? Security of politicians was withdrawn but a cover was being provided to a former dictator.”
Senator Shahi Syed said he was receiving threatening phone calls from Afghanistan, Dubai and from local phone numbers.
Addressing the House, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed all this was due to the inefficiency of state machinery.
“We don’t have a proper anti-terrorism policy. The caretaker set-up should take initiatives in this regard.”
Senator Abbass Khan Afridi informed the House that the IG had refused to provide any security to parliamentarians, as directed by the government, the ECP and the Supreme Court.
About the withdrawal of security, Caretaker Interior Minister Malik Muhammad Habib assured the senators that security cover would be provided to nominated candidates across the board after consultation with the ECP.
The 92nd session of the Senate was apparently called for hearing the concerns of political parties about the rigidity adopted by the ECP during the electoral process, particularly when the commission termed the heavy security given to former parliamentarians and political leadership a show of protocol.
The ECP had directed the Interior Ministry and law enforcement agencies to withdraw the security from politicians. The caretaker interior minister assured the House that security would be provided to politicians under the guidelines of the ECP.
“I reassure that there is no political discrimination and interference of any circle,” he maintained.
The caretaker minister said that he would put the grievances of politicians before premier Mir Hazar Khan Khoso in the cabinet meeting likely to be held today (Wednesday) and also take up the same with Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G Ebrahim.
Copying the statements of former interior minister Rehman Malik, Habib said that maintaining law and order was the responsibility of provinces, while the federation could only assist them, particularly in the context of intelligence sharing.
Earlier, speaking on an adjournment motion moved by Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi of the MQM, all political forces in the Upper House strongly condemned the ECP and the caretaker set-up over managing the electoral process.Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk