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| India-Pakistan |
| MNA asks Punjab to rein in Jihadis |
| 2010-02-24 |
| [The News (Pak) Top Stories] The alleged Punjab government patronage of the regrouped banned Jihadi outfits has given a wake-up call to the federal government that is piqued at their holding of public rallies for getting votes in the Punjab by-elections. Raising the issue on a point of order in the National Assembly on Tuesday, Sherry Rehman lashed out at the way banned Jihadi outfits were being allowed to stay freely in the Punjab. She said they could not be allowed to hijack the country's foreign policy and national security. The same issue was raised by PML-Q legislator Sheikh Waqas Akram on Monday when he questioned the visit of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah to a Madrassa of a banned religious outfit. Former information minister Sherry Rehman said it was not just an issue where sectarian groups were being patronised for an election campaign, but also how they were holding rallies all over Lahore, brandishing their weapons and propagating their terrorist ideologies with total impunity. Sherry said it was shocking to see how banned terrorist organisations were allowed to challenge the writ of the state to hijack the country's domestic and foreign policy and preach hatred against non-Muslims and moderates. "What is the point of our innocent civilians and soldiers dying in a borderless war against such terrorists when armed, banned outfits can hold the whole nation hostage in the heart of the Punjab's provincial capital," she asserted. "What right do these groups have to tell us they will wage Jihad in the region, when this parliament and this government have decided otherwise? Pakistan is going up in flames, challenging an unprecedented enemy with bravery and commitment, but here we see militants and terrorists openly thumbing their nose at not only the Punjab government but also our security agencies and our federal government as well," she remarked. Sherry said the federal government should urgently seek to assist the Punjab government if they lacked the capacity to book such criminals. "There is much talk about the rule of law in the country. Well, my question is who gives them the right to decide what is Jihad and what is not? Who gives them the right to flout the law of the land so openly? Are there two sets of laws for these people," she asked, adding: "Nobody can silence parliament, and nobody should be allowed to ignore the law of the land." Earlier, Minister for Labour and Manpower Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah said the government was taking concrete measures to overcome extremism in the country and bring harmony among various sects. Responding to points of order, he said the federal government had taken notice of the activities of a Punjab minister, who had been allegedly found involved in promoting and patronising sectarianism in the Jhang district. He said the Punjab government had been asked to investigate the matter and take appropriate measures in this regard. The minister said the armed forces were engaged in combating terrorism and in these critical times, there was a need for promoting religious harmony instead of supporting extremists. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Unfortunately MNA the Jihadis have been used by the Pak Army/Government since the 70's re foreign policy! |
| Posted by: Paul2 2010-02-24 05:02 |