Pakistani Senators: Extremists Defying Govt Authority
ISLAMABAD: Nationalist Pashtun senators from Balochistan accused religious extremist and foreign elements on Tuesday of defying government authority, especially in the NWFP and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).
During a debate on the law and order situation in the country, moved by Leader of the Opposition Senator Kamil Ali Agha, the senators expressed their concern over the “fast deteriorating” law and order in the country. They took particular note of the incidents of kidnapping for ransom.
“The state administration has completely collapsed. Government writ is not seen anywhere, especially in the Pashtun-dominated areas of NWFP. Outlaws are kidnapping, looting and killing innocent people at will. And our Corps Commanders and inspector generals are bargaining for the release of the abducted rather than taking action against criminal elements,” said Pushtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP)’s Senator Abdul Rahim Mandokhail in his opening remarks.
Expressing disappointment over the law-enforcement agencies’ inability to trace abducted Pakistani Ambassador Tariq Azizuddin almost two months after his kidnapping, he also questioned whether the agencies were sponsoring such elements themselves.
Strength: Mandokhail said that the religious extremists had become so strong in the Tribal Areas that they were now implementing their own version of Islam by force. He alleged that the most people of the region, including parliamentarians, were aware of the identities of the kidnappers. Senator Azam Swati of the JUI-F, however, said that Pakistan had made two major mistakes in its foreign policy by first joining the Afghan war in the 1980s, and then joining the war on terror on the behest of the US. “The first policy resulted in Klashnikov culture and the second in suicide attacks in Pakistan. He urged an immediate review of the country’s policy on war on terror.
Meanwhile, Senator Dr Abdul Malik of the National Party said that Balochistan was a political issue and not an administrative issue. He said the government had made it an administrative issue by killing Nawab Akbar Bugti.
Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said that the newly elected government should form policies to control the problems of smuggling, corruption, unemployment and price hikes, which were behind the rise in crimes.
According to NNI, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Mushahid Hussain Syed has called for strengthening the parliamentary committees for the supremacy of parliament. The Senate will resume the debate when it meets today (Wednesday).
(Daily Times)
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Because that is what they do. Let’s get the whole gang on board for Sharia! By gun barrel and sword point…
I’m sure it will work out just fine for them… Just like the Tally-whackers…
May 7th, 2008 at 5:50 amHe sounds like the Dems here on Capitol Hill. Its our fault b/c we voted to ‘fight the terrorists’ - - if only we had NOT entered these illegal wars, our country would be safe, the terrorists would leave us alone and there would be no more suicide bombings.
Rather Pakistan has “fast & deteriorating law and order” b/c they only half-fight the war on terror, while at the same time, they protect the religious extremists who reside in their country.
This guy (Senator Azam Swati), likely works his gov’t. job by day but engages in terrorist activities by night.
Can’t have it both ways…
May 7th, 2008 at 7:28 am