FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) would have had tough time in compiling its annual report or to count heads, for statistical analysis, of those who were subjected to atrocities (kidnapped for ransom, tortured, politically victimised or targeted to be eliminated from the face of earth) merely due to failure of the state machinery.
Projecting dismal law and order situation, the report which was released on April 14, revealed that as many as 12,580 people during the last year - 1071 per month or 36 people per day - were murdered across the country. Over 2,500 or 83 per day were killed in militant attacks and at least 900 others lost their lives in US drone strikes in the tribal areas during the same period, the report said. The HRCP noted that nearly half of these victims were civilians killed in suicide blasts in Pakistan, which saw 67 such attacks last year.
The report said 1,159 people were killed in 67 suicide attacks including 1,041 civilians while 2,542 people were killed and 5,062 injured in terrorist attacks. The report further revealed that 237 political activists and 301 other civilians were killed in targeted killings in Karachi and 81 people were killed in Lyari gang wars. Referring to Balochistan, the report said 118 people were killed and 40 injured in 117 targeted killings. They included 29 non-Baloch settlers and 17 members of the Shia Hazara community. Bodies of 59 missing persons were found in the province.
There were 37,088 cases of vehicle theft or snatching and Police recovered 60,884 illegal weapons. While there is no let up in incidents the government is well equipped with the answer: terrorism in case of suicide attacks is responsibility of provinces. And Interior Minister Rehman Malik, with his three years of experience, has full command of the subject as he skilfully traces linkage of terrorism in any given case.
On Friday a group of four lawmakers from Kurram Agency sought an explanation of forced closure of Thall-Parachinar road in the National Assembly from the Interior Minister, who is well known for brokering peace deals after every spree of target killings in Karachi. Always ready to answer, Rehman Malik said terrorism had spread its tentacles all across the country.
The road has been closed since March 25 because of attacks on caravans and killings and kidnappings of locals in violation of a truce reached in early February at a jirga presided over by Interior Minister Rehman Malik and attended by a large number of tribal elders from all agencies, including MNAs Sajid Hussain Turi, Munir Orakzai, Eng Shaukatullah (now minister for sports), NA deputy speaker Faisal Karim Kundi and Malik Waris Khan. The federal government and the jirga had announced the reopening of the Thall-Parachinar road and all other roads in Kurram Agency from February 5 after remaining closed for four years.
The attention of Interior Minister was drawn by Sajid Hussain Turi from Kurram Agency, Noorul Haq Qadri, Hameedullah Jan Afridi and Zafar Baig Bhittani through a calling attention notice. However, Sajid Hussain Turi was absent when Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi asked the lawmakers to move their calling attention notice. Perhaps he had some more important engagement than attending today's proceedings which included the issue raised by him at item no.5 of the agenda.
Availing the opportunity, Rehman Malik condemned terrorists and urged the house to brand them as 'Zaliman' instead of Taliban. But Farah Naz Isphani of the ruling PPP stood up and said it was a humanitarian issue and not that of terrorism and needed urgent action by the government. She explained that residents of the area had to enter Pakistan via Afghanistan. Reflecting miseries of the people she said that they have to go to Afghanistan to get basic items needed to sustain life since they were completely cut-off from Pakistan.
"A concrete and long-term plan is needed and what the federal government is doing?" questioned the bewildered parliamentarian. The question once again was for Rehman Malik. He stood up and as always placed the blame on others absolving his ministry of any responsibility. In this case he held a tribal feud responsible. He, however, counted several facilities being provided by the government including provision of food items to the people through helicopters and pick and drop to the people via this aerial route.
He also told the house that landing facility in the area could cater only to small planes, therefore 'we have asked the authorities for expansion so that big aircrafts could start operation'. But the question or attention of the Minister was invited over attacks on passenger vehicles in Parachanir that led to closure of Thall-Parachinar road.
While explaining several steps taken by the government to combat terrorism, the Interior Minister told the house that in view of the terrorist attacks in various cities of Pakistan, the government has realised the significance of enhancing its security.
He referred to a MoU signed between Pakistan and China wherein Chinese government has agreed to provide Vehicle X-Ray Inspection System through a Chinese concessional loan facility. He said installation of the system had been successful and 20 scanners would be installed at entry points of big cities of the country for combating terrorism during the next financial year.
When newly elected member of the National Assembly and a federal minister of Musharraf regime, Awais Leghari, asked the minister for strategy to safeguard shrines, Rehman Malik while welcoming the member in the house, said his priority was to safeguard every part and every citizen of the country. Though Leghari remained dissatisfied by the answer, Malik further said he would hold meetings with chief ministers and for their preferences for installation of new scanners.
Meanwhile, Nawab Yousuf Talpur, a stalwart of the ruling PPP highlighted his helplessness over victimisation by the bureaucracy. He informed the house that a DCO of his constituency (Umer Kot, Sindh) in collaboration with the DPO had lodged frivolous FIR of murder against his son Taimur Talpur, a local MPA.
"I request 'my government' to take notice" said Talpur adding, "I have been a loyal member of the party for the last 40 years and am bewildered at being suddenly victimised". He also informed the house that Chief Minister Sindh did not have any clue about what is happening in his province. Rehman Malik said he would look into the matter and Khursheed Shah promised the speaker that he would contact the Sindh government.
Seeing the lukewarm response from the PPP, Raza Hayat Hiraj of PML-Q requested the speaker to entrust the matter to a privilege committee of the House while giving assurance of bringing the responsible (bureaucrats) to task, if they had transgressed their authority.