Senate Body Condemns Unprovoked Firing By Indian Forces At LoC

Senate Standing Committee on Interior Thursday strongly condemned the unprovoked firing by the Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC) in Thub sector in which a sepoy of Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Nov, 2018 ) :Senate Standing Committee on Interior Thursday strongly condemned the unprovoked firing by the Indian forces along the Line of Control (LoC) in Thub sector in which a sepoy of Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom.

Chairman Senator A. Rehman Malik asked the Government of Pakistan to go in United Nations against the unprovoked and ongoing ceasefire violations by the Indian forces.

The Committee highly commended the efforts of the Frontier Corps (South) in restoring the peace and eliminating terrorism from Balochistan. The Committee paid rich tributes to the martyrs of FC Balochistan (South) and offered fateha for martyrs of the nation.

The meeting was chaired by Senator A. Rehman Malik and was attended by Senators Shibli Faraz, Kalsoom Perveen, Muhammad Javed Abbasi, Asad Ali Khan Junejo, Rana Maqbool Ahmad, Haji Momen Khan Afridi, Mian Muhammad Attique Shaikh besides Sheikh Ansar Aziz mayor of Islamabad, Chairman CDA Afzal Latif, Secretary Ministry of Interior, Home Secretary Balochistan, Commissioner Islamabad and senior officers of the attached departments. The Senate committee while deliberating on performance of FC Balochistan (South) has said that countering terrorism and the measures taken by the security forces to eliminate the menace of terrorism are highly commendable. Senator Rehman Malik while presiding over the meeting of the Committee at the Parliament House has observed that brave soldiers have laid their lives for protecting the geographical and ideological borders of the country and they deserve a huge applause in recognition of their sacrifices.

He eulogized the services of security forces including FC in that regard. Chairman of the Committee Senator A. Rehman Malik observed that the institution of Frontier Corps needs more budget as well as human resource besides other modern equipment and logistical support to root out terrorists and extremists from the country.

He said that financial concentrates limit the performance and become a source of trouble in achieving the desired objectives. He said that it would be in the best national interest to fully equip all the Law Enforcement Agencies especially Frontier Corps (FC). The Committee recommended that the FC North & South need helicopters on urgent basis as the vast area cannot be monitored without proper logistical support.

Chairman Committee asked the Ministry of Interior that keeping in view the internal and external threats to Balochistan and security of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the Frontier Corps must be provided with modern arms, equipment and helicopter.

DIG Frontier Corps Balochistan (South) Brigadier Rizwan Baig briefed the Committee about organizational structure, achievements, budgetary provisions for enhancing the capacity buildings, details of new and old check posts and steps taken for the welfare of FC Staff. He also briefed the committee about packages for Shuhada.

He briefed the committee about overall role and performance of FC Balochistan (South) to restore peace and stability in the province.

It was informed that FC Balochistan (South) is relatively new and nascent which was established last year. DIG (FC) said FC is performing its duty in collaboration with Pak Army and other security agencies.

He also shared his organization future plans and targets with the committee and said that FC is engaging youth of Balochistan in educational and sports activities and has been engaging the elders in the development of their respective areas.

Chairman of the Committee Senator A. Rehman Malik said that Balochistan is close to our hearts and the Committee would raise voice for the rights of the people of Balochistan. The Committee was informed by the Home Secretary Balochistan that PIA has curtailed flight operation to various cities of Balochistan. Senator A. Rehman Malik and other members of the Committee were shocked to know about this discrimination and directed the Civil Aviation Authority to immediately submit a comprehensive report as why flight operation were curtailed. The Committee also recommended opening up of closed check points of Customs near Pakistan-Iran boarder with a view to regulate the cross border movement and to keep check on the illegal activities. Senator A. Rehman Malik said that he as then interior minister had opened passport and NADRA offices in different remote areas of Balochistan to facilitate the poor people there but unfortunately those offices were shutdown later by successive government for any unknown reasons.

He said he is well aware of the people's problems in Balochistan that they travel many kilometers to reach passport and NADRA offices.

Sheikh Ansar Aziz, Mayor of Islamabad informed the committee about the organizational and financial problems of Municipal Corporation Islamabad (MCI) and said that Capital Development Authority (CDA) is not cooperating with MCI. Committee was informed that the MCI cannot function properly without its rules and regulations and cannot spend the funds it collects against various municipal services.

He told the committee that the interior ministry has forwarded the proposed rules many months ago but they are yet to be approved by the Establishment Division and the Finance Ministry.

Senator Rehman Malik in the chair said the MCI should be made a active body to serve the people of Islamabad appropriately.

He directed the Finance Ministry and Ministry of Interior to resolve the issue of unapproved rules of the MCI and its differences with CDA. He constituted a sub-committee to be headed by Senator Shibli Faraz to look into all the matters and issues of MCI and its differences with CDA.

Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Interior had taken the notice of scam of hacking of banking data. FIA Cybercrimes Director Capt Mohammad Shoaib informed the committee about the meeting of FIA with State Bank of Pakistan and the committee will be informed accordingly. Senator A. Rehman Malik said that the Committee will be calling soon a meeting with representatives of all Banks including State Bank of Pakistan and FIA on the measures they have taken for the security of dataof customers.