NA approves Rs55.69bn for Interior Ministry
Finance Minister Dr Hafeez Shaikh presented the demands of Interior Ministry in the House while the opposition members Shareen Arshad Khan, Tahria Aurangzaib, Khalida Mansoor, Parveen Masood Bhatti, Qudsia Arshad,
Nuzhat Sadiq, Asia Nasir, Malik Shakir Bashir Awan and Khalida Mansoor submitted their cut motions.
Opening the debate on cut motions, PML-N Central leader Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi criticized the performance of Interior Ministry and said that law and order were violated in every nook and corner of the country. The Interior ministry has failed to provide security to the citizen, he added.
He said incidents of target killings, kidnapping for ransom and other crimes have surged in the country alarmingly and the House should take notice of these incidents.
Mehtab said NADRA has also failed to stop issuing fake computerized national identity card as these cards were being used in elections.
He said that efficiency should be brought in NADRA system to stop the issuance of fake identity cards.
Abdul Qadir Baloch said people were pointing fingers on performance of Rangers and FC and they have shown deep concerns in this regard.
He said that FC and Rangers should be brought under the command of local government and administration.
He said that people/students were being kidnapped and killed in Balochistan and no culprit was detained so far. He said that coast guard and FC should be confined to borders instead of allowing them to set up check points insides.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that civil armed forces have rendered supreme sacrifices in war against terrorism and their budget should be enhanced.
He said the foreign and internal policies should be framed under the supervision of public representatives.
Chaudhry Barjees Tahir said that investors have stopped investments in the country due to poor law and order situation and they were investing billions of rupees in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
He said incidents of target killings, kidnapping for ransom and drugs' business were increasing in the country.
He alleged that the ministry and its departments have become dens of corruption and even transfers and postings were made after taking bribes.
"If it's a provincial responsibility then the ministry should be abolished," he remarked.
Shaikh Rohail Asghar criticized NADRA and FIA performance and said that culprits of Haj scam were not yet brought to justices.
He said that journalists were being subjected to torture and no inquiry reports were presented in the house so far.
Shareen Arshad said that appointment of FIA chief should be purely on merit and not be politicized. She said that the policy of war against terror should be reviewed.
Raja Asad Khan said that protection of lives and properties was the prime responsibility of the government and it should be ensured at all cost.
Abid Sher Ali said that no action was taken against those who have issued around 7000 visas in Dubai. He said that no accused of target killings was brought to justice.
He also called for judicial inquiry to probe Raymond Davis issue. Maulvi Asmatullah said that effective steps should be taken to curb corruption in passport offices. He alleged that the officials deputed in passport offices openly demand bribe.
Tahira Aurangzeb said that fake ID cards were being issued despite various measures.
She said that around 5000 passports were stolen in Karachi but the concerned failed to detect the crime. Ayaz Amir said integrated plan should be devised to tackle the menace of terrorism.
He said that there was lack of coordination among various agencies.Asia Nasir was of the view that the ministry should be abolished due to it poor performance.
She said that attitude of FC and Rangers was unbearable and the people even could not move freely in Balochistan.
She alleged that drugs business was running under the supervision of police officials in slums of the capital.
Qudsia Arshad said that police officials were deployed on the security of VVIPs and no one was secure in the country.
Khalida Mansoor said that law enforcing agencies should be given under the command of honest people.
Surriya Asghar stressed the need to curb menace of beggary in the country.
Laiq Muhammad Khan said that incidents of kidnapping for ransom and car lifting have increased and no step was taken to control these crimes.
He said that no culprit of Haripur incident has been arrested so far. Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao said that US set a homeland security after 9/11 to eradicate terrorism but the government has not yet established much awaited counter terrorism authority.
He said it was also not yet decided that who would control it whether it would be under the Prime Minister or Interior Ministry.
He said terrorism could not be rooted out without effective intelligence, adding that intelligences sharing system should be strengthen.
Earlier, Raza Hamid Hiraj on behalf of parliament and people of Pakistan welcomed the Indian parliamentary delegation in the house.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011