Senate asks govt to wipe out network of Fata militants

 

ISLAMABAD: The government declared in the Senate on Monday that the issue of militancy will not be allowed to drag on for five years and, if necessary, decisive action will be taken against the militants.
Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions Lt-Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch assured the House that the government was trying its utmost to address the issue of terrorism through talks but, if need arose, would go to any extent to restore peace in Pakistan.

He was responding to the unanimously-adopted resolution that called upon the government to prepare and make public a workable plan for Fata to cleanse it of the militants network, provide compensation to the victims of militancy, relief and rehabilitation of IDPs and a massive programme for the socio-economic uplift of the people.Senators Afrasiab Khattak and Farhatullah Babar had moved the resolution during the last session, which was adopted unanimously on Monday after the government did not oppose it.

Speaking on the matter, Khattak noted that reports of fighting were not emanating from Somalia or Sudan but from Fata, where people had no rights but the militants, local as well as those from Uzbekistan, Chechnya and other countries, were at full liberty to target the people in Pakistan and across the border in Afghanistan.

The senator from the Awami National Party said that the situation was so bad that today Pakistan did not enjoy good relations with its four neighbours and the prime reason was the presence of the network of militants on its soil, who had virtually occupied it. Khattak said Fata was being used as a battleground, as the state could not ensure its sovereignty there, whereas it was incumbent upon it to establish its writ wherever it was challenged.

“The killers and the victims remain unknown in Fata. No one keeps record of how many have been killed so far and injured. No government representative has ever gone there to offer Fateha and give compensation to the victims,” he lamented.

It is unfortunate, he said, that the state has always treated Fata as a periphery and its people as its subjects not as citizens and never a piece of legislation was enacted for their betterment.

He also described the extremely poor state in which the internally displaced persons (IDPs) had been living for decades, particularly for the last 10-15 years, who could not return to their homes and continued to suffer due to militancy. He added there were no health and education facilities for the children of IDPs and the only option left with many of them was to join militancy.

Khattak came down heavily on the Fata Secretariat, which he billed as a source of massive corruption denying any benefit to the people of tribal areas. He proposed an apology should be tendered to these people for the treatment meted out to them for so long, as even today, no court or legislature had been set up there and hence Fata was treated like a colony.

Qadir Baloch conceded that whatever the ANP senator said was absolutely correct and it was also a reality that Fata was never treated as a part of Pakistan. Had these issues been addressed properly, things would not have reached the present stage.

About the demand for cleansing Fata of militants, the minister said that several operations were launched for this purpose in the past and the government with complete sincerity now wanted to resolve this issue through talks but would deal with the local and foreign militants sternly, if need arose.

The minister spoke about a comprehensive plan of action regarding the IDPs, which was nearing completion and then would be tabled in parliament for approval. He said Fata would need a mini-Marshal Plan for rehabilitation after restoration of peace there.

PHC reserves decision on jurisdiction in Fata till April 7

PESHAWAR: A full-bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Friday reserved verdict on a point of its jurisdiction in Fata related to illegal detention and service matters till April 7.

A five-member bench comprising Chief Justice Mian Fasihul Mulk, Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Qaiser Rasheed Khan and Justice Malik Manzoor Hussain reserved judgment after hearing arguments from senior lawyers, additional attorney general of Pakistan and law officers on the point of its jurisdiction in Fata.

During the course of hearing, Additional Advocate General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Waqar Ahmad Khan submitted before the bench that the high court could send a reference to the Parliament for removal of difficulties related to jurisdiction of the superior courts in Fata.

He pointed out that there was discrepancy between Article 10-A of the Constitution related to fair trial and Sub-Article 7 of the Article 247, because residents of Fata had no chance of fair trial under the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR).

However, Additional Attorney General Syed Muhammad Attique Shah submitted that the high court couldn’t ask the Parliament through a reference for amendment to Sub-Article 7 of Article 247 of the Constitution.

He submitted that if there were some missing points in the law, the court could point those out to the Parliament. To the court’s question, he promised to provide records of the Parliament’s debate on Article 247 of the 1973 Constitution to the court in a day or two.

To a court’s query, the additional attorney general said the high court had jurisdiction in service matters in Fata when the employees were serving in Fata on deputation from both the federal and provincial governments.

During the previous hearing, Tariq Afridi as amicus curiae submitted before the bench that the court had jurisdiction to take up petitions filed by tribal people against illegal detention and violation of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

Taliban, government committee to meet in FATA: Prof Ibrahim

PESHAWAR: Professor Ibrahim has informed Geo News that the meeting between the Taliban shura and government committee will be held in FATA in the next two days.

The Taliban committee member said the location for the meeting had been decided but was being kept secret. Professor Ibrahim added that he was not aware of the agenda for the meeting.

According to Ibrahim members of the Taliban committee will also be present during the meeting.

 

Functions held across KP, Fata to celebrate Pakistan Day

PESHAWAR: A number of functions were held in the provincial capital and other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) to mark the Pakistan Day.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the day dawned with 21-gun salute in the provincial capital. Special Darbars were held in army units to pay tribute to the heroes of Pakistan Movement.

An exhibition of defence equipment was also held at the Kernal Sher Khan Stadium, which was opened by Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-General Khalid Rabbani.Tanks, armoured vehicles, air defence radars and other equipment were displayed at the exhibition, which was thronged by a large number of people.

The people enjoyed the performance of the army band and the air show of the army aviation. They also enjoyed the performance of the paratroopers.The National Highways and Motorways Police Sector M-1 celebrated the day at the main motorway toll plaza Peshawar under the supervision of Sector Commander M-1 SSP Muhammad Tahir.

At the toll plaza the officers of Motorway M1 welcomed commuters, briefed them about traffic rules and regulation and distributed road safety pamphlets and booklets. The Gandhara Hindko Board, a literary, cultural and social welfare organization, arranged a Hindko mushaira or poetry recital session. The programme was presided over by senior poet Sajid Sarhadi. Prof Gahzala Yousaf and Prof Gulnaz Arshad were chief guests.

The poets, including Sheen Shauket, Saeed Gillani, Sikandar Hayat, Naseem-e- Sehar, Farooq Jan Babar, Awais Khiyal, Ziaud Din , Zafar Naveed Jani and others paid poeticized tributes to

all the political leaders and workers who struggled for the independence.

MINGORA: Events were organised in Swat district to mark the 23rd March.The main programme was held in Wadudia Hall in Saidu Sharif were children sung national songs and presented tableaus.Swat District Coordination Officer Syed Imtiaz Hussain Shah, Brig Zahid Hussain, other government officials and people from all walks of life attended the ceremony.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Jamaatud Dawa organized a rally outside the Town Hall. The participant of the rally included former member provincial assembly Khalifa Abdul Qayyum, trade leader Chaudhry Jamil Ahmed, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Zahid Muhibullah and Qari Khalil Ahmed Siraj.

MANSEHRA: Speakers at a seminar titled ‘The vision of Pakistan Resolution and currentPakistan’ urged the government to devise a comprehensive strategy to put the country on the path to development and prosperity.

LAKKI MARWAT: The District Boys Scout association arranged a functionat Government Primary School No. 1, Mela Shahabkhel to mark the day. Member Provincial Assembly Munawar Khan’s brother Ameer Nawaz Khan was the chief guest and ADO physical education and sports Nisar Muhammad presided over the event.

GHALLANAI: The day was celebrated in the Mohmand Agency with enthusiasm. A ceremony was held in Ghallanai and attended by officials of the political administration, tribal elders and people from all strata of the society in large. Political Agent Khushal Khan hoisted the national flag.

2,500 terrorists killed in Fata operations: FC

ISLAMABAD: Colonel Ijaz of the Frontier Corps (FC) informed the Senate Standing Committee on Interior that the Mohmand agency operation is in its last phase, and that around 2,500 terrorists have so far been killed in Fata.
Colonel Ijaz briefed the Standing Committee on Saturday, stating that 169 Pakistan Army personnel and 240 soldiers of the FC have so far been killed in the operation against militants.
He said that 5,578 militants have been injured while 956 militans have been nabbed during operations.
Local troops and paramilitary forces, backed by helicopter gunships and warplanes have been targeting Taliban positions in the Beizai Tehsil of Mohmand Agency over the last few days.
Security forces launched Operation Brekhna (Thunder) on April 6, and have since claimed killing dozens of militants in clashes. However, there have been no independent confirmations of these claims.
Meanwhile, sources also said that large scale displacement was taking place in these areas, where a military operation was ongoing. According to the sources, at least 150 families have reached the Kashmir Kor Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp. They said that at least 1,600 families have so far taken shelter at this camp to escape the clashes in their areas.