Chairman Senate Raza Rabbani on Wednesday hit back at Swiss government's reluctance to take action against terrorist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) after it displayed anti-Pakistan posters in its capital, and directed the Foreign Office to expel Swiss ambassador to Pakistan from the country. The directives from the Senate chief came after Law and Justice Minister Zahid Hamid informed the House that the Swiss authorities have plainly refused to take action against BLA terrorists who displayed anti-Pakistan posters in Geneva.
"The Swiss authorities have plainly said that the display of [anti-Pakistan] posters was no violation of Swiss laws so no action against the persons involved in it could be taken," Hamid told the House about inaction of Swiss authorities despite the fact that Geneva can not allow a terror outfit to use its soil against a sovereign state. He said that Swiss ambassador to Pakistan was summoned to the Foreign Office soon after the incident and given a demarche that it must not allow a terrorist organization to use its soil against Pakistan.
He said that Pakistan embassy in Geneva had also lodged a complaint with the Swiss government for allowing BLA activists to spread its propaganda in the form of posters displayed in a part of Geneva city. The BLA is not only banned in Pakistan but also in the UK, and the US State Department considers its actions as acts of terrorism, he said, adding Baluchistan House, an affiliate of BLA, with the help of India organized the anti-Pakistan poster campaign.
This earned the ire of Rabbani who hit hard at the government for its lukewarm response after Swiss authorities paid no heed to its genuine protest. "So they [Swiss] are doing nothing...if Swiss government is exporting terrorism to Pakistan, what the government is doing," enraged Rabbani exclaimed, shocked over Swiss government's soft corner for militant outfits.
He said that the Foreign Office should take some serious action because it is violation of international laws, as Swiss soil is being used against Pakistan. "Tell the Foreign Office to ask the Swiss ambassador to Pakistan to leave the country," he added. The brief sent by Foreign Office was read out by the law minister about the progress made so far to take the BLA terrorists to task for launching malicious campaign against the country at the behest of India. However, Rabbani said, "I can say a lot but I won't."
Instead of referring breach of privilege arising out of an allegedly wrong reply to the questions asked by the senators about implementation on the recommendations of an inquiry held last year into malpractices in Aero Medical Department of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to the Privilege Committee, the Senate chairman said that the House will take up the matter itself.
Speaking on a motion Senator Farhatullah Babar waved a copy of the CAA's letter on the subject conveying approval of the DG to certain actions to be taken in the light of recommendations of Board of Inquiry. He said that instead of taking action, incomplete replies were furnished to the House. It appears a case of cover-up, protecting some individuals and misleading the House, he said and urged that it should be referred to the Privilege Committee.
"The person involved in misleading the Senate should be hung upside down," remarked Rabbani. Senator Babar and some other senators insisted that CAA misled the House by providing wrong information to it. Rabbani referred the matter to the Senate instead the privilege committee of the house after some of the senators claimed that officers guilty of breaching the privilege of the house or a member often walk away comfortably by simply tendering an apology.
He directed the privileges committee of the house to complete the investigation into the matter within two weeks and then he would issue notices to secretary aviation and director general CAA. Opposition Leader in Senate Aitzaz Ahsan first proposed to refer the matter to Privileges Committee as it would not be appropriate for the House to summon 'tiny' bureaucrats before upper house of parliament. However, Ahsan as well as Leader of the House in the Senate agreed with the chair to discuss the matter in Senate after he said that notices would be issued to secretary aviation and the DG CAA and not the 'tiny' bureaucrats.
Through another calling attention, JUI-F Senator Hafiz Hamdullah drew the attention of the government towards expansion of US Embassy in Islamabad which, he claimed, is being turned into mini-Pentagon, and may be used for spying in Pakistan. Referring to a report of Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP), he said that it has raised objections over the new seven-storey building of the US Embassy in Islamabad's Diplomatic Enclave, and that the top floor of the building can be "conveniently" used for surveillance of the government offices located in the adjacent area.
He said that the AGP office in its audit report stated that Capital Development Authority (CDA) had withheld the NOC [no-objection certificate] for the US Embassy until the approval from the prime minister, as the CDA can only sanction the construction of up to five-storey buildings in the area. However, State Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) rubbished the claim of the senator, saying the days are gone to spy through setting equipment on high-rise buildings.
He said that the civic body has given NOC to the embassy for expanding its building and no illegal expansion is carried out by the Americans. He said that the Interior Ministry and other intelligences agencies have also rejected the apprehensions that the seven-storey building can be used for spying. Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani said that the issue of delay in announcing National Finance Commission (NFC) Award should not go to the Supreme Court and it should be resolved through Parliament as well as executive and political means.
He stated this after PPP Senator Sassui Palijo said that some political parties are contemplating upon taking the delay in announcement of NFC to the apex court. Rabbani said that he would sleep on the issue and would give his ruling before propagation of the current session.