A ruling party lawmaker alleged on Thursday that certain elements in political groups, bureaucracy and even military have soft corner for extremist elements.
Waqas Akmal, MNA from Jhang, who defeated both Dr Tahirul Qadri's son and brother of slain head of a banned extremist group in the by-election, spoke with full force in his maiden 'outburst' in the House against the menace of extremism and terrorism.
"Let me ask as to what has been done to deal with the banned extremist outfits, which are active again after changing their names," he asked the government, as the Chair tried to interrupt him at least thrice.
He cautioned it was time to crush terrorist groups, which portrayed themselves to be Islamic groups while playing with peace and politics as they pleased.
The government, the interior minister, please answer me, he said, as to what they have done against those parliamentary groups which support them one way or the other.
"What will the government do, suppose if I say I have received threats and that suicide bombers are readying to attack mosques?" the MNA queried.
Members on both sides of the divide with utter surprise listened to his comments. More surprisingly, none of the lawmakers from the MMA tried to silence him.
He kept on asking various questions, as Religious Affairs Minister Ijazul Haq and some other cabinet ministers sat muted.
The MNA alleged that certain elements in political parties, bureaucracy and the military promoted these extremists.
"Terrorists must be done away with at all cost; you can't dilute what had been fed in their mind," he remarked.
He demanded of the government to take stringent action against those groups, supporting or raising their voice for extremist elements.
Making an indirect reference to chief of the banned extremist group based in Jhang, he alleged, such elements destroyed peace and harmony.