US lawmakers pass bill to curb NSA

WASHINGTON: The US House of Representatives approved late Thursday a bill that would restrict the electronic surveillance powers of the National Security Agency (NSA).The margin was wide, 293 to 123, for the bill attached to the defense budget for 2015, which begins October 1.For now, however, the bill will have no effect on the NSA as it has not been debated by the Senate.

But the message from the lower house is clear.

It wants to embrace a court ruling and bar the National Security Agency from using personal electronic information from US citizens without a prior court order.

As it currently stands, under the so-called Prism program, the NSA focuses on foreign targets on the Internet via Facebook, Gmail and other services.

But the NSA has acknowledged it used information taken from the servers of such companies, without approval from a judge.

The Constitution and US laws require that the government obtain a court order before searching among data of US citizens.

Thursday´s amendment would bar the NSA from carrying out any search without a court order, including information from Americans, even if their communications were picked up inadvertently. The bill would bar the NSA and the CIA from including secret "back doors" allowing the NSA to skirt coded gateways and gain access to users´ personal data. The NSA is accused of having done this for several years. A year after the revelations made by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, Congress is still debating how to reform US surveillance programs.

US lawmakers urge Pentagon to end ban on Sikhs serving in army

Sikhs are also able to wear protective equipment, including helmets and gas masks, in conformity with safety requirements, said US lawmakers.

A group of 105 US lawmakers has urged the Pentagon to lift the presumptive ban on the Sikhs serving in the military by easing restrictions on beard, turbans, and other religious accoutrements.
“Given the achievements of these soldiers and their demonstrated ability to comply with operational requirements while practising their faith, we believe it is time for our military to make inclusion of practicing Sikh Americans the rule, not the exception,” the lawmakers said in a letter to US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel.
Led by Congressmen Joe Crowley, vice chair of the Democratic Caucus, and Rodney Frelinghuysen, Chairman of the House Defence Appropriations Subcommittee, the 105 members of the US House of Representatives requested that the US armed forces update their appearance regulations to once again allow Sikh Americans to serve while abiding by their articles of faith, such as wearing a turban or beard.
They said the Sikhs have served in the US army since World War I, and are permitted to serve in the armed forces of Canada and the UK, as well as key partner India.
The three Sikh Americans who have been granted individualised accommodations to serve in the US army wear turbans and maintain beards in a neat and conservative manner, both in accordance with operational requirements and their Sikh religious beliefs.
They are also able to wear protective equipment, including helmets and gas masks, in conformity with safety requirements.
Sikh Coalition applauded lawmaker’s move calling for an end to the presumptive ban on devout Sikh service in the US military.
“Today’s letter from Congress is a big step forward in our campaign to ensure equal opportunity for Sikh Americans in the  US military,” said Rajdeep Singh, director of Law and Policy for the Sikh Coalition.
“Sikhs have proven time and again around the world that they are excellent soldiers. It’s time for the Pentagon to realise that Sikh Americans are here to stay and that policies of exclusion are inevitably going to fail,” Singh said.

Lawmakers urge multi-dimensional measures to counter terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Members of the National Assembly on Wednesday called for incorporating multi-pronged measures in the National Security Policy to fight terrorism and put forth recommendations for further fine-tuning the under discussion document.
The lawmakers touched upon a number of areas and recommended to focus the issues like deterrence and safety of the population, dissemination of information and deal with other issues inter-linked with terrorism like syllabi of the seminaries and funding.
Speaking on the motion in the House, Dr Shireen Mazari proposed to undertake three major steps based on disengaging, isolating and exterminating the extremists. "Let us first focus on those, who can be disengaged from extremists; then isolate those, who desire to wage a war; and then exterminate such miscreants."
She advocated to disengage from the US-led war on terrorism and also abandon the terminology "war on terrorism". "Even the United States does not use this terminology these days and let us not declare every act of violence as terrorism."
The member proposed to deal with potential supporters of extremists, secure the population and convince the "fence sitters" to join the state. "We need to convince them and win over to weaken the extremists."
Shireen Mazari also recommended to effectively disseminate information to media to nullify the impact of the "propaganda of the militants," and review the syllabi of the seminaries.
She recommended to the government to act cautiously in taking punitive measures because such steps sometimes become counter-productive.
Maj (retd) Tahir Iqbal recommended to engage the youth so they were not misguided by militants through "propaganda of Islamization and enforcement of their own type of Shariah."
He recommended the measures like "deterrence" to safeguard the population and "isolate the hardliners", who did not want to hold dialogue with the government and refused to obey the Constitution.
He said militants were engaged in psychological and strategic warfare with the government, therefore, it was needed to evolve a "counter subversion system" to deal with their moves. "We also need to educate our youth to stop them from following their ideology."
He said the role of media was very important to educate those innocent people, who were easily persuaded by militants in the name of religion.
Salman Baloch of Mutahidda Quomi Movement (MQM) criticized Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for conducting subversive activities in the country.
He said stern action should be taken against Taliban for saving the country. He urged politicians to do away with petty politics and work for the betterment of the country.
The National Internal Security Policy must be implemented forthwith as Taliban continue their killing spree across the country.
Daniyal Aziz of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) criticized country's police system and urged drastic reforms in Police system.
He criticized Islamabad Capital Administration (ICT) for their failure to check gory incident in district courts last day.
Sahibzada Tariqullah of Jamat-e-Islami lauded draft National Internal Security Policy saying it is a comprehensive policy.
He wondered that over 600,000 officials are working in country's more than 26 intelligence agencies but no place in the country is safe from terrorists.
He demanded local body elections in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and a development package for the areas to ensure their uplift.
Mehmood Khan Achakzai of Pakhtoonkhaw Milli Awami Party said Pakistan was at cross roads and it must be put on right track with collective wisdom.
He demanded joint sitting of the Parliament for discussing National Internal Security Policy. A resolution should be passed in the joint sitting that the constitution of the country is supreme and all parties must adhere to the resolution. The country must be put on right track with collective wisdom.
Supremacy of Constitution, Parliament must be ensured for ensuring peace and putting the country on right track.
He lamented protocol being given to the violator rather the abrogator of the constitution former President General (R) Pervez Musharraf.
He said people only demand an effective justice system in the country.
He lauded equity based non interference policy of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. An elected governor should be deployed in Fata. Without taking Afghanistan on board the operation against militants could not succeed. As militancy is bound to end after non provision of sanctuary.
He said military operation should be the last resort as it brings devastation.
Taking part in the discussion, former minister Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour opposed military operation in South Waziristan Agency. Democracy must flourish in the country, he added.
Bilour, who is a senior leader of Awami National Party (ANP), said the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had given a bad name to Islam, which was a religion of peace and there was no place for terror in its teachings.
Abdul Sattar Bachani of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) urged the government to take effective steps for achieving peace in the country.
He criticised former dictators Gen Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf for damaging the national institutions.
Chaudhry Khadim Hussain Wattoo of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lauded the National Internal Security Policy. He appreciated opposition's positive behaviour for achieving lasting peace in the country.
Aiyasha Syed also hailed the draft National Internal Security Policy and urged the government to incorporate Islamic principals and laws into the policy. The menace of terrorism surfaced in 2002. The students of seminaries were not terrorists, she added.
She said the issue of sectarianism should also be resolved once for all.
She said foreign policy should also be linked with the internal security policy.
She urged training of police force and devising a merit-based appointment system for them. Merit should be ensured and corruption be eliminated from all institutions, she added.

Lawmakers urge multi-dimensional measures to counter terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Members of the National Assembly on Wednesday called for incorporating multi-pronged measures in the National Security Policy to fight terrorism and put forth recommendations for further fine-tuning the under discussion document.
The lawmakers touched upon a number of areas and recommended to focus the issues like deterrence and safety of the population, dissemination of information and deal with other issues inter-linked with terrorism like syllabi of the seminaries and funding.
Speaking on the motion in the House, Dr Shireen Mazari proposed to undertake three major steps based on disengaging, isolating and exterminating the extremists. "Let us first focus on those, who can be disengaged from extremists; then isolate those, who desire to wage a war; and then exterminate such miscreants."
She advocated to disengage from the US-led war on terrorism and also abandon the terminology "war on terrorism". "Even the United States does not use this terminology these days and let us not declare every act of violence as terrorism."
The member proposed to deal with potential supporters of extremists, secure the population and convince the "fence sitters" to join the state. "We need to convince them and win over to weaken the extremists."
Shireen Mazari also recommended to effectively disseminate information to media to nullify the impact of the "propaganda of the militants," and review the syllabi of the seminaries.
She recommended to the government to act cautiously in taking punitive measures because such steps sometimes become counter-productive.
Maj (retd) Tahir Iqbal recommended to engage the youth so they were not misguided by militants through "propaganda of Islamization and enforcement of their own type of Shariah."
He recommended the measures like "deterrence" to safeguard the population and "isolate the hardliners", who did not want to hold dialogue with the government and refused to obey the Constitution.
He said militants were engaged in psychological and strategic warfare with the government, therefore, it was needed to evolve a "counter subversion system" to deal with their moves. "We also need to educate our youth to stop them from following their ideology."
He said the role of media was very important to educate those innocent people, who were easily persuaded by militants in the name of religion.
Salman Baloch of Mutahidda Quomi Movement (MQM) criticized Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for conducting subversive activities in the country.
He said stern action should be taken against Taliban for saving the country. He urged politicians to do away with petty politics and work for the betterment of the country.
The National Internal Security Policy must be implemented forthwith as Taliban continue their killing spree across the country.
Daniyal Aziz of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) criticized country's police system and urged drastic reforms in Police system.
He criticized Islamabad Capital Administration (ICT) for their failure to check gory incident in district courts last day.
Sahibzada Tariqullah of Jamat-e-Islami lauded draft National Internal Security Policy saying it is a comprehensive policy.
He wondered that over 600,000 officials are working in country's more than 26 intelligence agencies but no place in the country is safe from terrorists.
He demanded local body elections in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and a development package for the areas to ensure their uplift.
Mehmood Khan Achakzai of Pakhtoonkhaw Milli Awami Party said Pakistan was at cross roads and it must be put on right track with collective wisdom.
He demanded joint sitting of the Parliament for discussing National Internal Security Policy. A resolution should be passed in the joint sitting that the constitution of the country is supreme and all parties must adhere to the resolution. The country must be put on right track with collective wisdom.
Supremacy of Constitution, Parliament must be ensured for ensuring peace and putting the country on right track.
He lamented protocol being given to the violator rather the abrogator of the constitution former President General (R) Pervez Musharraf.
He said people only demand an effective justice system in the country.
He lauded equity based non interference policy of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. An elected governor should be deployed in Fata. Without taking Afghanistan on board the operation against militants could not succeed. As militancy is bound to end after non provision of sanctuary.
He said military operation should be the last resort as it brings devastation.
Taking part in the discussion, former minister Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour opposed military operation in South Waziristan Agency. Democracy must flourish in the country, he added.
Bilour, who is a senior leader of Awami National Party (ANP), said the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had given a bad name to Islam, which was a religion of peace and there was no place for terror in its teachings.
Abdul Sattar Bachani of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) urged the government to take effective steps for achieving peace in the country.
He criticised former dictators Gen Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf for damaging the national institutions.
Chaudhry Khadim Hussain Wattoo of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lauded the National Internal Security Policy. He appreciated opposition's positive behaviour for achieving lasting peace in the country.
Aiyasha Syed also hailed the draft National Internal Security Policy and urged the government to incorporate Islamic principals and laws into the policy. The menace of terrorism surfaced in 2002. The students of seminaries were not terrorists, she added.
She said the issue of sectarianism should also be resolved once for all.
She said foreign policy should also be linked with the internal security policy.
She urged training of police force and devising a merit-based appointment system for them. Merit should be ensured and corruption be eliminated from all institutions, she added.