ISLAMABAD: Lawmakers in the National Assembly on Wednesday urged the authorities concerned to find out the causes, conditions and facts that lead to terrorism, saying that security operations are no longer an option to deal with militancy.
The Lower House meeting, presided over by Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf, discussed the Peshawar mosque attack.
Addressing the participants, MNA Mohsin Dawar pointed out that the House was informed a day ago that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir will visit Parliament on Wednesday.
“[I] ask where are they (PM and COAS)?” he questioned.
Dawar noted that a “series of martyrdom” had begun in the country and asked why the problem of terrorism was not being solved despite the “claims of the government” to tackle militancy.
Referring to the Peshawar Masjid attack, the MNA said the “seriousness of the issue” could be gauged from the fact that the Peshawar police had registered a protest in front of the Peshawar Press Club.
“[You] can gauge the gravity of the matter when your force is forced to protest.”
He urged the government to take “tough decisions” against terrorists and called for the formation of a “Truth Commission”.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Mufti Abdul Shakoor asserted that the government, all political and religious parties, businessmen and institutions should consider strategies to counter terrorism, saying that “problems from [security] operations will not be resolved”.
He urged the authorities concerned to find out the reasons, circumstances and facts that lead to terrorism.
He said Pakistan was a “target” of world powers, adding that the “war on terror” was “imposed” on the country through a “conspiracy” in which youth, children, women and security personnel lost their lives. They were offering offerings.
“The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was given Rs 417 billion in security funds but the provincial government says it doesn’t have the resources,” Shakoor said, alleging that the money was given to the Taliban during former chief minister Mehmood Khan’s tenure.
“Terrorists targeted Lakki Marwat the most where police personnel are now barricading themselves in police stations and check posts,” he added. “This situation is sad.”
The religious affairs minister expressed regret that the “martyrs package” was not given to the martyred scholars in the tribal districts.
Condemning the Peshawar attack, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz, appealed to the Prime Minister to announce financial assistance for the martyrs and injured of the tragedy.
He questioned why the recent Peshawar and Mianwali terrorist attacks are happening again when peace has been established in the country.
He said it was a “big mistake” by the government to differentiate between “good and bad” terrorists.
I want to tell the security agencies that the whole nation is with you. Together we will fight against them (terrorists) and defeat them.
Federal Minister Maulana Asad Mehmood said that terrorism is the result of bad policies of the past.
“If you decide today that domestic and foreign policies will be framed by this House, law and order and economy will automatically improve.”
Later, the meeting of the National Assembly was adjourned till Friday.
