The Senate resumed its session in Islamabad on Monday afternoon with Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani in the chair. Minister for Interior Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan has said that noose has been tightened against the banned terrorist outfits and proscribed sectarian organizations to restore peace in the country.
The House is transacting private members' business.
"The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2017" was introduced in the Senate today.
The bill moved by Muhammad Azam Khan Swati provides to amend the Article 255 sub clause 3 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973.
The chair referred the bill to the concerned Standing Committee of the House.
Minister for Interior Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan has said that noose has been tightened against the banned terrorist outfits and proscribed sectarian organizations to restore peace in the country.
He was responding to a motion moved by Sehar Kamran and others regarding implications of the statement made by him in the Senate on 10th January, 2017, in which he made a distinction between the banned terrorist outfits and the proscribed sectarian organizations in the country.
He said his statement was totally misinterpreted. He said eradication of terrorism from the country is a shared responsibility of all the stakeholders including federal and provincial governments, security forces and civil law enforcement agencies, people of the country and media and they should play their role in this regard to make the country cradle of peace. He said all the efforts for elimination of terrorism should be above political motives.
The Minister said that the terrorist organizations are not allowed to operate in the country at any cost and their headquarters have been demolished during the Zarb-e-Azb operation. He said now terrorist organizations have their headquarters across the borders and they are operating from there. He said during the intelligence based operations thousands of facilitators, financers and helpers of the terrorists have been arrested across the country.
Chaudhary Nisar said that the leadership of the proscribed sectarian organizations has also been apprehended. He said the proscribed sectarian organizations have a number of followers or workers and action cannot be taken against them without any proof of their involvement in any terrorist activity. He said legislation is underway to address this loophole and he sought support of all the political parties in this regard.
The Interior Minister said that when the government took over there were five to six incidents of terrorism daily that have now been reduced significantly and there are terrorism incidents after months. He said the overall security and law and order situation in the country have improved significantly.
Earlier speaking on the motion, Sehar Kamran said that action should be taken against all the banned outfits and organizations without any distinction.
Taj Haider said that private armed groups should not be allowed to operate in the country at any cost.
Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh said that the National Action Plan, agreed upon by all the political parties, should be implemented in letter and spirit.
Abdul Qayyum said that the terrorists are enemy of the country and they have no religion and stern action should be taken against them.
Chaudhary Tanvir Khan said that significant improvement in the law and order has been achieved after the implementation of the NAP.
Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said that major terrorism incidents in the country were carried out by the banned sectarian organizations.
Maulana Tanvirul Haq Thanvi said that action should also be taken against the facilitators and financers of the terrorists.
Saleem Zia said that the government has played a vital role for eradication of terrorism from the country particularly for bringing peace in Karachi.
Nehal Hashmi said that due to lack of political will in the country in past successes could not be achieved against terrorism but the present government took practical steps for elimination of this menace.
Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid has said that smuggling goods worth 36 billion rupees have been confiscated during the last four years.
He was concluding discussion on a motion moved by Mohsin Aziz regarding situation arising out of unabated increase in smuggling of electronics, textile products and other goods and their sale in Bara markets with particular reference to its negative impact on the local industry and overall economy of the country.
He said that goods and narcotics worth 5.3 billion rupees were confiscated in 2012-13, 7.4 billion rupees in 2013-14, 9.5 billion rupees in 2014-15 and goods and narcotics worth 14.3 billion rupees were confiscated in 2015-16.
He said that government has devised a stringent strategy for controlling smuggling from Pak-Afghan Border that is porous and the main route of smuggling.
