FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

Migration still continues in Pakistan after sixty year, says Aftab Ahmed Sherpo as his words pulled the attention of MNAs and few in the press gallery wishing to hear what the former Interior Minister was referring to.
It was understandable in 1947, he said, but asks why are people still compelled to internally migrate after sixty years? It is agonising that the tribal areas are burning, with innocent people being killed and families forced to flee from their native land.
It is awful that four children have died in Para Chinar due to a shortage of medicines - the medicine could not reach them because the valley was besieged by militants the Prime Minister claims are foreigners. But the question lingers of who is responsible for these four deaths, foreigners or those who brought the foreigners to Pakistan? The people of Pakistan have only recently begun hearing about these foreigners and are curious as to who allowed them entrance into Pakistan in the first place.
The people of Pakistan are worried about innocent people - men women and children - being killed in operations against these militants. No one is opposed to operations against terrorists but innocent people must not suffer. The Prime Minister was right that the people want a terror-free Pakistan, but do they also want their fellow Pakistanis, their children, women and elderly to be slaughtered by food and medicine shortage in the areas? Certainly not. They want the government to protect their lives and ensure shelter to families moving out of the area.
Gilani's address on Friday was seen as a clear and firm message that no negotiations would be held with militants. He wanted tribes to disassociate themselves from what he called a "handful [of] foreigners" who wanted to ruin peace in Pakistan. The opposition, in a rare gesture, assured him of their full support against militants and terrorist, stressing the need to avoid collateral damage.
Sherpao said heavy shelling and bombardments in Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies, as well as the Michny areas aggravated the situation, triggering the displacement of huge numbers of people needing shelter and immediate attention from the government. He was clearly upset by the indifferent attitude of the provincial government towards families coming from the tribal areas. Surely, it was the responsibility of the government to provide them shelter and food to the displaced families.
The government seems to have no intention of talking to them as was evident from the Prime Minister's speech listing the two items that topped their agenda, eliminating the terrorism and extremism that disturbs peace, and arresting the falling economy. All we can hope is that the government remains steadfast and the announcement is not reverted like the ISI fiasco.
We wonder if his claim that the role of the state is to protect the life and property of the people and that if the government fails to do so, it has no right to remain in power, was taken seriously. Everyone knows such things are strange to this land, with the people allowing the most corrupt people to enjoy power. Someone needs to tell the Prime Minister that even in urban areas people were forced to either sell their loved ones or lie them across railroad tracks because of growing hunger.
Lets believe the crime has declined since the government has taken over, but still they to do something about senators, who display lists showing manifold increase in street crimes during last four five months, to ministers. The Prime Minister needs to be reminded that it was not long ago that criminals were burnt alive by mobs in two big cities of Pakistan, Karachi and Lahore.
We wish the Prime Minister well in his resolve to bring about prosperity in the tribal areas. He says this is the foremost priority of the government as foreign terrorists who one percent of the total population of these areas and still terrorising people. The Prime Minister need to do something about the poverty in other parts of the country as well, as reports suggests that more people have gone below the poverty line following recent inflation.
Gilani said that members of the National Assembly from FATA were taken into confidence before launching actions in these agencies against foreign terrorists. He adds that the government would also welcome NGOs and philanthropists who want to co-operate with the government in this regard. He said that terrorists violated agreements made in these areas, including Swat and attacked on army. Protecting the lives and property of innocent people should be the topmost priority of the government. Gilani informed the House that security forces have captured a number of terrorists in Rawalpindi yesterday. The Prime Minister assured the House that the government will take it into confidence and would welcome proposals of the members to mitigate the situation.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly passed a Bill to allow trade union activities in Pakistan International Airlines by repealing the PIA Suspension of Trade Unions and Existing Agreements Order 2001. The Senate has already passed the Bill that will now go to the President for his assent. The Minister for Labour and Manpower, Syed Khurshid Shah moved the Bill in the House that was later unanimously passed. Trade union activities were banned in the PIA through legislation in 2001.