The government was warned in the National Assembly against showing complacency in dealing with the issue of target killings of Shias in various parts of Pakistan.The gory killing of over 30 people, mostly Shias in Dera Ismail Khan on Tuesday, also echoed in the house, as an opposition MNA pointed out that minorities in Punjab were being cornered and leaders of banned extremist groups being given official protocol.
Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik held out an assurance to the house that the government was alive to the situation and pointed out that neither Shias nor Sunnis, but a third party was involved in these acts of terrorism.
Law Minister Farooq H Naek assured the members that a resolution would be tabled on Thursday against the publication of blasphemous caricatures in an Indian daily and in support of Dr Aafia Siddiqui.
An opposition legislator, belonging to the PML-Q, Sheikh Waqas Akram, on a point of order, charged that on purpose 'leaders' of banned extremist outfits were being given a free hand and this could one day turn Punjab into another Wana.
Rashid Akbar Khan, a treasury lawmaker, who hails from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, raised the issue of target killings and the DI Khan attack and asked the government to either protect Shias or let them defend themselves against terrorism.
Rising on a point of order, a visibly disturbed PML-N legislator drew the attention of the house towards the DI Khan killings and said for the last six months, Shias were being targeted and the government and the security agencies were maintaining silence.
"The railway line is blocked and there is strike across the city. But no action was taken against the perpetrators who claimed the lives of six brothers in the DI Khan attack," Rashid Akbar lamented.
The lawmaker from Bhakkar cautioned that if the government did not protect Shias, they could rise to defend themselves. "The agencies are in the knowledge of a person who is in DI Khan and is behind these incidents of target-killing," he maintained. He said similarly Shias were being targeted in Parachinar.
Waqas Akram alleged the government and its security forces were obsessed with the borders and by design, those banned after 9/11 events, were free to carry arms and take along dozens of security guards with them in Jhang, which had been a hot-bed of terrorism.
"The government will be responsible if the Punjab one day became Wana. Then there will be no discrimination between Shias and Sunnis and even MNAs will be confined to the Parliament Lodges, as they will not be able to return to their constituencies," he warned.
Responding to these points of order, Rehman Malik said the government was focusing on its job and warned that those trying to challenge the government's writ would not be spared. He noted that certain elements on the border were also involved in terrorism. The adviser apprised the house of various measures taken so far to restore peace in Parachinar and elsewhere.
Rehman Malik said that a Jirga comprising Shia and Sunni religious leaders would meet within three to four days to work out a peace plan. Earlier, on a point of order, PML-N parliamentary leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan wanted the government to table a resolution, supporting Dr Aafia Siddiqui and proposed sending a team of legal experts to assist her.
He also suggested that a team of MNAs should also visit the Pakistani lady and report back to the house about the whole issue. Khurrum Dastagir of the PML-N said 54 hours had passed following the resignation of Musharraf but the deposed judges had not been so far restored and said democracy would be restored fully only after the reinstatement of the judges.