Sindh calls for nationwide implementation of NAP
Sindh Assembly has demanded a nationwide implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP).
Dunya News Reports (Yaruq Malik)
ISLAMABAD: In the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University, the Sindh Assembly has demanded the nationwide implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) to ensure the security of every citizen across Pakistan. The members of the Sindh Assembly have strongly condemned the attack.
The Sindh Assembly has passed a resolution following the terrorist attack on Bacha Khan University which killed over 20 students and teachers. The resolution was passed after a dozen lawmakers across the floor delivered speeches on the current situation of peace in Pakistan.
Leader of the opposition Khwaja Izharul Hassan criticized the Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for not implementing the National Action Plan evenly across the country due to which the security conditions in the country are falling apart. He further added that after the attack on Army Public School (APS) the Interior Ministry should have acted wisely and the NAP should have been implemented. He said that after the APS attack last year, the attack on Bacha Khan University is a ‘failure’ at the hands of the federal government.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf leader Dr. Seema Zia termed the Bacha Khan University attack a failure of intelligence agencies.
Khairunnisa Mughal from the Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians said that the Interior Ministry has its focus only towards the province of Sindh whereas there is no ban on Jamaat-ud-Dawa in Punjab. She questioned the federal government for not imposing a ban on Hafiz Saeed under the NAP.
The current dispute between the Sindh government under the Pakistan People’s Party and the federal government under Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz hovers around the same issue. PPP believes that the Rangers should work under the CM under all circumstances. The federal government is of the belief that the Rangers are operating under the National Action Plan which was accepted by all the parties including the PPP.
Moreover, the PPP considers the operation as a tool for ‘political victimization’. According to the PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, the operation is an ‘invasion’ and it is hurting the sovereignty of the provincial government. The co-chairman believes that the Rangers should operate under the powers of the provincial government. He also added that Rangers have been given power that goes beyond the Chief Minister of Sindh which is not appropriate and is unconstitutional.
During a recent rally, the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari heavily criticized the federal government for being ignorant of the constitution of Pakistan. He insisted that the National Action Plan is being used only for personal grudges against the PPP.
“NAP stands for N-League’s Action Plan”, said Bilawal.
A possible operation lead by the Rangers is due to operate in Punjab if the ruling party accepts the recommendation put up by the army leadership in a high-level meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The military establishment thinks that the Punjab police do not have the required equipment or the training to fight terrorists. Therefore, the army leadership recommended that the Rangers should be given the responsibility in Punjab to track and eliminate terrorist networks.
According to experts, the Punjab government would emphasize the utilization of its own Elite Force instead of calling the Rangers for an operation in Punjab as it would create a negative image of the provincial government and its forces. However, it is said that if the Rangers do operate in Punjab, they would have the same powers as they had during the Karachi operation.
According to a statement by a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz official, the operation in Punjab would presumably target the districts of Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur and D.G. Khan due to the existence of banned military groups and organizations presently working in these districts.
During the first phase of the operation, around 9000 criminals were arrested during 677 raids. Currently, the operation is in its second phase which is said to be ‘stronger’ and more aggressive.
With Punjab’s provincial government insisting on using its own Elite Force for a possible operation in Punjab, the tensions between Sindh and Punjab are expected to take another high toll in the coming weeks.
