News
Friday, January 20, 2012
Senators concerned over poor law and order in Balochistan* Say province is totally cut off with rest of the country
* Interior ministry should take appropriate measures as provincial government has failed to protect the people
By Ijaz Kakakhel
ISLAMABAD: The Upper House of Parliament on Thursday expressed dissatisfaction over deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan as senators claimed that it had been totally cut off with rest of the country.
On a point of order, Balochistan senators Mir Wali Muhammad Badini, Rehmatullah Kakar, Abudur Rahim Mandokhel and Dr Abdul Malik told the House that all the business activities had come to a grinding halt in the province, adding that no one could move into Balochistan where jungle rule prevailed and no one was there to stop it. They regretted that the law enforcing agencies had failed to arrest even a single person involved in criminal activities where people were being pulled off from public transport, robbed, disgraced and killed.
Badini also regretted that such news was not reported in Islamabad media. They demanded the Interior Ministry take appropriate measures to improve law and order situation in Balochistan because the provincial government had failed to protect the people.
A committee on Balochistan has already been formed but they regretted that it was ineffective and unable to address the issue. They requested the government to take sincere efforts and resolve the Balochistan security issue on priority bases otherwise there would be severe consequences for the entire country.
Leader of the House Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said Balochistan security was a serious issue and should be resolved on priority bases. He suggested that this issue might be referred to the parliamentarians committee on Balochistan. Senate Chairman Farooq H Naek referred the Balochistan’s security issue to the committee concerned.
On a point of order, Senator Zahid Khan regretted that Islamabad was totally blocked and made hostage over the appearance of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in Supreme Court. “People abuse parliamentarians and the government over such hardships,” he added. He requested the House to seek a reply from the interior minister for such a situation.
Later, Interior Minister Rehman Malik informed the House that he had received threats from terrorists that was why such tight security measures were taken for the prime minister.
On a point of order, ANP Senator Afrasiab Khattak raised the issue of expulsion of 500 employees of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC). He termed the terminations injustice and anti-labour policy of the company. He demanded the House take appropriate measure to reinstate the poor employees of the KESC and as a protest all the ANP senators along with Mian Raza Rabbani staged a walked out.
Senator Hamayun Mandokhel on Thursday ended his boycott of the Senate session after the government assured him that all his three demands for development projects in Balochistan would be accepted.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk