Senator Rehman criticized the ‘government’s indifference’ to the deteriorating law and order situation in KP
ISLAMABAD:
The Senate on Tuesday witnessed a heated exchange between the Treasury and Opposition benches over the escalating security situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as JUI-F Senator Attaur Rehman questioned whether the province had effectively been “handed over to terrorists”.
Senator Rehman took the floor and criticized the “government’s indifference” to the worsening law and order situation in KP, arguing that legislative business was being prioritized over human lives. He said the focus on legislation was “in no way more important than the lives of the people of KP”.
“Why has our blood turned white? Why is there no concern for KP?” Rehman asked. “Blood is being spilled there and you’re worried about your bills. Are these bills so important that human blood continues to flow while you continue to pass legislation?”
He referred to the recent attacks in Lakki Marwat and Bannu and alleged that the provincial chief minister was “still out and about”.
“Do you have a sense of our wounds. Why is the relationship of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa not given importance?” he said.
Responding to the criticism, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said that any terrorist incident had been condemned on the floor of Parliament. He added: “I do not believe that our hearts do not ache over these incidents.
He said the attacks on policemen in Bannu and Lakki Marwat were “cowardly”.
Chaudhry said intelligence-based operations were underway and rejected the impression that any province was being singled out. “This country will remain but the terrorists will be defeated,” he said, adding that even an incident had taken place in Islamabad. He questioned whether the Tarlai suicide blast was linked to KP.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah also weighed in, stating that he fully respected Senator Rehman’s patriotism but rejected any suggestion that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should break away from Pakistan. “KP and Balochistan are provinces of patriotic Pakistanis,” he said.
