Senator Ilyas Bilour of Awami National Party (ANP) on Monday disclosed that there is no writ of provincial government in 90 percent areas of NWFP and sought the centre intervention to help the provincial authorities re-establish government writ in the entire province, particularly in restive Swat.
Taking part in a debate on Swat unrest in Senate session, he said the valley, which was known as Switzerland of Pakistan, would turn into another Gaza if the government did not take in time and appropriate action.
He said the law and order situation across NWFP did not allow people to move freely and nobody feels secure due to Talibanisation in Swat and its surrounding areas.
Now, Taliban have started threatening innocent civilians of dire consequences, he said, adding that they have warned important personalities to remain tight lipped or face death. He demanded of the government to declare the province "war zone". He said that if the government failed to establish its writ in the province, particularly in Swat, the network of Taliban would make their hold strong in the entire province.
"They have announced the name of their leader for Mardan and soon they are going to name the person for Peshawar", he said. He questioned the government's determination about resolving the issue and feared that if the situation remained unchanged, the country may face disintegration like East Pakistan. "I appeal to the government, for God sake, find an immediate solution to the problem as it has gone from bad to worse", he added.
Senator Abdur Rahim Mandokhel also expressed concerns over deteriorating law and order situation in Swat, saying the government had no writ in Swat and the country was at the edge of disaster due to poor policies of the government. He asked the government to take serious note of the Taliban attacks on girls' schools and other educational institutions.
Senator Razina Alam said that the Taliban have ordered the closure of all girls' schools in Swat and warned parents and teachers of dire consequences if the ban was violated. Where is the writ of the government, she questioned, saying that the female education in the valley has been banned, over 8000 teachers have been deprived of their jobs. Those people who have fled their areas to continue the education of their children are not being granted admissions in other parts of the country, he said.
She demanded the government to direct the education ministry to give admission to the children who have migrated from Swat and other parts of NWFP, so they can continue their education.
Professor Khurshid Ahmad said the government was optimistic that new US administration will be instrumental in halting drone attacks in tribal areas but its shattered when the drone attacks killed over 22 innocent people in tribal areas on the very first day of US president Barack Hussain Obama's administration. He said that there was no let up in US drone attacks in tribal and settled areas of the country after the democratic government in Pakistan. More than 88 drone attacks were carried out inside Pakistan by US, which resulted in killing of innocent people.
Leader of the House in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani said that US had carried out 32 drones' attacks in Pakistan since the new government had taken over. He hoped that Barack Obama would not repeat the mistakes made by Bush administration. We are devising a policy with regard to drones' strikes, he said, adding that the government has its own limitations.
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