ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik while responding to an accusation from a PML-N parliamentarian told the National Assembly that Blackwater was not providing security to the president and the prime minister.
Malik emphatically denied the presence of Blackwater in the country. “The presence of Blackwater people in the country has not been established during investigations,” the interior minister said while replying to PML-N’s Tehmina Daultana’s speech when the House was discussing the recent bomb blasts in Karachi. Tehmina Daultana while taking part in the debate had said that Blackwater was active in the country and was also providing security to the president and the prime minister. The prime minister was present in the House when she spoke.
Reacting to her remarks, the interior minister said it is an insult to the country to say that the government is incapable of providing security to the president and the prime minister. He requested Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi, who was chairing the session, to expunge some remarks of the PML-N member.
He denied that he had 40 vehicles in his security squad. “I do not have 40 vehicles in the entire ministry,” he said. Rehman Malik said he did not want to go into details of the agreements which were signed in the past and whose uncle or father was present during the signing of those agreements.
Giving details of firing incident on Sheikh Rashid Ahmed at his election office in NA-55 Rawalpindi, he said it took place at 6:10 pm when the Awami Muslim League leader was coming out of the office. “Four bodyguards of Sheikh Rashid were killed while he himself was injured,” he said.
He assured the House that a detailed inquiry report into the incident would be presented in the National Assembly. Malik said it was not proper to blame any agency directly or indirectly for the incident. Tehmina Daultana had hinted at the involvement of agencies in the incident.
The PML-N member said the nation had become a hostage in the hands of foreign powers like the United States and Britain. “We will have to stand on our feet if we want to get rid of the US, Britain, the IMF and the World Bank,” she said. She also criticised some members of the House for not taking interest in the proceedings.
Taking part in the debate on an adjournment motion on the Karachi situation, Pervaiz Khan of the Awami National Party (ANP) reiterated his party’s demand for the de-weaponisation of Karachi. “All weapons possessed by any person belonging to any party should be seized,” he said. He regretted that the city was being run on an ad hoc basis. The ANP member demanded that his party should also be consulted while taking any major decision, as Pakhtuns were also part of the Karachi city.
Haider Abbas Rizvi said the residents of Karachi should be provided full security in the event of de-weaponisation. Responding to the suggestion of the ANP member, he said the whole country should be rid of weapons. “There is also need to stop supply of illegal arms to Karachi,” he said.
The MQM parliamentarian said the population of Karachi over the years had increased to over 20 million, which also includes a large number of illegal foreigners including Chechans, Uzbeks, Afghans and others. “Every sixth person in Karachi is untraceable as he has no identity,” Haider Rizvi said.
He said the target killing was taking place all over the country and it was not restricted only to Karachi. “The leaders of the ANP are being killed in target killing, attack on Sheikh Rashid was also target killing and 16 people in Gujrat were also killed by absconders in target killing,” he said. SA Iqbal Qadri expressed the view that it was the administrative lapse that necessary security measures were not adopted and as a result the procession was targeted by terrorists first on Sharae Faisal and then outside the emergency ward of the Jinnah Hospital.
Bushra Gohar said the process of reconciliation is appreciable but it should not be at the cost of lives of the citizens. Chaudhry Birjees Tahir called for strengthening of the institutions and holding accountability of those involved in acts of violence and terrorism.
Marvi Memon pointed out that it was the responsibility of the government to provide necessary security to religious processions. She urged the government to sort out its differences with coalition partners so as to ensure smooth governance. She said some elements were trying to fan sectarianism in the country.
Syed Asif Hasnain said terrorists are targeting Karachi as it is the economic hub of the country and their objective is to destabilise the country. He said the enemy is trying to divide people on sectarian and linguistic lines.
Shakeela Khanum Rasheed called upon all political leadership as well as Ulema and intellectuals to ponder over the causes of violence and terrorism and suggest measures to rectify the situation.
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