Caretaker Federal Cabinet fears that massive unscheduled power loadshedding and worsening law and order situation may negatively impact the upcoming general elections. Official documents available with Business Recorder reveal that the Minister for Interior, Malik Habib, during the maiden cabinet meeting explained to his colleagues that internal factors influencing the law and orders situation were terrorism (foreign/domestic), religious and ethnic extremism, proliferation of illegal arms, crime syndicates, proscribed organisations etc.
External factors include interference by foreign intelligence agencies, foreign extremists etc. In the Punjab, he said, law and order situation is characterised by targeted killings, unrest due to the power and gas shortages, threats by Punjabi Taliban etc.
In Sindh targeted killings, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) activities, drug mafias and nationalists elements have added fuel to the fire. The Minister for Interior stated that as part of strategy in Sindh the caretaker government intended to focus on TTP as a top priority to prevent such elements from carrying out their nefarious activities.
"In Balochistan ethnic and sectarian terrorism especially against the Hazaras is on the rise. The foreign covert interference and sabotage activities are also factors," he added. It was stated that missing persons and dumping dead bodies provoke public anger. The Hazaras are frequently targeted by proscribed Lashkar-e-Jhangvi backed by TTP with devastating effects. The separatist groups like Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) supported by foreign intelligence agencies are funding themselves through kidnapping for ransom. In KP and FATA, TTP continues its terrorist activities and attacks on Law Enforcing Agencies (LEAs) are on the increase, along with those on the political leadership. Additionally foreign armed groups across the border randomly attack border installations. TTP is the largest proscribed organisation based in North Waziristan, FATA. It is an umbrella organisation of 13 other organisations with direct links to al Qaeda.
TTP is also involved in brutal killings of military personnel and other captives. The Minister for Interior argued that a Quick Response Force shall be created at the earliest to deal with terrorist outfits in a professional and timely manner.
The Minister for Interior shared the mission statement of the Ministry of Interior during the General Election 2013 as follows:-
"To hold fair and free elections by providing effective security to the process of Elections in consultation with Election Commission and Provincial Governments so that no untoward incident should take place and subsequent continuation of democratic process and smooth transfer of power to the elected representatives of the people".
Talking about the role of the Ministry of Interior during the election, the Minister stated that the Ministry will assist Election Commission of Pakistan on law & order, security, visa/movement of international observers/journalists. A National Election Co-ordination Centre has been established in the National Crisis Management Cell in the Ministry of Interior for this purpose. Ministry of Interior in consultation with Election Commission of Pakistan and Provincial Governments is preparing an Action Plan for maintenance of law and order and conduct of elections. Measures taken so far and plans put in place include National Election Security Centre in Ministry of Interior and maintaining a list of sensitive polling stations etc.
Wrapping up his statement, caretaker Minister for Interior stated that notwithstanding the security environment and challenges, Mol in close contact and co-ordination with Election Commission/Provincial Governments, is striving to ensure peaceful conduct of general elections 2013 and all divisions and departments of Mol are fully prepared to meet the challenges ahead.
After the presentation, a Cabinet member drew a parallel between the election process and the power situation in the country. The cabinet members said that if the country goes into darkness then the whole situation will become complex. In the recent attack on the grid station in Peshawar, the terrorists killed a large number of people inside and outside the Grid Station. If the situation is not addressed, employees would force a shutdown.
The Cabinet member further emphasised that it is the duty of the state to ensure the security and lives of the people working in all the major grid stations. The Cabinet member proposed that a framework for the security of the grid stations should be formulated by the Ministry of Interior and compensation be granted to the affectees in the same manner as has been given to other victims of terrorism. On this point the Minister for Interior ensured that he would be visiting KPK to take stock of the situation.
Another Cabinet member voicing concern over the security situation stated that security cannot be defined in narrow terms as it is an all encompassing term. He maintained that there was a need to do a cataclysmic scenario building exercise with various options and counter measures that were required to be taken. He suggested that a brain storming exercise should be undertaken by the Cabinet members after which SOPs mitigating measures and responses should be developed.
Another Cabinet member pointed out that the Ministry of Interior should give priority to kidnapping for ransom cases such as that of Salahuddin Mengal, a renowned lawyer, who was kidnapped from Quetta as well as relevant legal notifications are required for civil armed forces to assist Election Commission of Pakistan. "Since this caretaker government is mandated to ensure holding of free and fair election at all costs and since the non-state actors (NSA) are bent upon obstructing the process, we should isolate such elements that raise private militant armies, in terms of Article 6 and 256 of the Constitution, should be treated under "high treason". Similarly any foreign country supporting such elements should also be exposed," he added.
Another Cabinet member pointed out that ECP has recently imposed ban on postings and transfers. This needs to be implemented specially in the Province of Sindh, for clean and professional officers are a pre-requisite for the conduct of free and fair elections. The present lot of officers is not capable of delivering. There are approximately 8000 belligerent Taliban in Sindh capable of creating a law and order situation in the Province on any given day.
A member revealed that in Quetta the citizens of Balochistan are facing difficulties in getting their passports. However, on the other hand, the Afghans and Iranians have been given passports.
A Cabinet member pointed out that there are growing apprehensions that there will be no elections. A clear message needs to be sent out by the Cabinet that elections would be held. Law and order is a provincial subject and in the past provincial governments supported Jihadis. There is a need for an inter-provincial meeting.
A Cabinet member from Balochistan pointed out that Pakistan's security is under serious threat. Some miscreants will create problems in Balochistan during elections. The Balochi youth need employment as unemployment leads to extremism. Development can be pursued in Nasirabad. Similarly Command area of Kachi Canal is fertile, having potential to grow cash crops. Terrorism can be countered through education.
The Cabinet members from KPK pointed out that KPK is facing real threat from non-state actors, who have a destabilising agenda. The Army and other civil agencies must come together for holding of peaceful elections.
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