Malik sticks to 'no Blackwater' mantra

ISLAMABAD The absence of Ministers once again echoed in National Assembly on Tuesday when the chair admonished Chief Whip Syed Khurshid Shah directing him to bring the Ministers in the House or he would adjourn the proceedings for the day.
The Speaker gave this ruling when Sheren Arshad Khan moved the Islamabad Capital Territory Pre-emption Bill 2010 and neither the Interior Minister or nor the Minister of State was available in the House for response. However, the Parliamentary Secretary Interior said that it was not the job of his Ministry while the Speaker said that it was sent to the Ministry of Law and Justice and it had forwarded it to the Interior Ministry.
Earlier, PML-N MNA Barjees Tahir on a point of order said that it was a Private Members Day but no Minister was available to reply or satisfy the legislators. It is a non-serious attitude. When the House issues the agenda, the Ministers should be prepared. The proceedings should be adjourned till the arrival of Ministers, he recommended.
Meanwhile, PPP MNA Jamshaid Dasti also criticised the Ministers attitude and said that their absence from the National Assembly embarrasses the whole party. They are not taking the proceedings seriously. The Prime Minister should take notice, Dasti asserted.
However, the Speaker said that the Central Executive Committee was meeting today so you should tell the Prime Minister that what do you feel when Ministers do not available in the House.
Later, responding to a calling attention notice regarding the presence of Blackwater in NWFP, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that there is no presence of Blackwater in Pakistan and the government, if provided any information in this regard,is ready to take an appropriate action. Do not consider every one as Blackwater, he remarked.
He said that all investigation and spying agencies have probed the matter and found no presence of Blackwater. Law enforcement agencies had arrested or intercepted many foreigners in Islamabad and other parts of the country but later it was confirmed that they were diplomats.
He said that only an American company Dyna Corp was allowed in 2003 to train the officers of Frontier Constabulary, Frontier Corps and Police to enhance their capacity. In this regard, he said that they were also provided space at Sihala Police Training Centre but keeping in view the risk to the Kahuta Research Laboratories and on the demand of the public, this training centre has been shifted elsewhere.
The Minister said that a company Vatcon, owned by a Pakistani journalist Ikram Segal, has been engaged for the provision of security to the US Embassy in Islamabad. He offered the House to form a special committee to thoroughly investigate the matter and the government would provide all information to the committee. He assured that the government would never compromise on the national interests.
Rehman Malik said that the government with the support of the people and Armed Forces has been able to break the backbone of terrorists and now they are on the run. He expressed the confidence that the government would defeat these elements at all costs and no one would be allowed to play with peace.
Talking about the statement of Bashir Bilour regarding presence of Blackwater in NWFP, Malik said that he had denied any statement in this regard. His statement was twisted while US Secretary Defence Robert Gates was also misquoted by the media and people, Interior Minister said.
He also offered the House an in-camera briefing over the law and order situation and internal and external issues including Dr. Aafia case. I will inform the House during the in-camera briefing about the things which the members do not know, the Minister claimed.
He said that law and order is a provincial subject but the federal government helps the provinces whenever they call for it. He added that the attack on Sheikh Rashid and the rape case in Sialkot were a provincial subject, but he had asked the concerned officials for a detailed report. The calling attention notice was moved by Chaudhry Muhammad Barjees Tahir and others.
Replying to a point of order by Bushra Gohar regarding the killing of a lawyer from NWFP, Malik said that he was living in a flat in sector G-11, Islamabad. He added that a couple had come to see him after that he left the flat. I have sent a message to the concerned officials for more information and as soon as I get the reply, the House will be informed, the Interior Minister said.
Later, the National Assembly referred the Reproductive Healthcare and Rights Bill 2010 to the Standing Committee concerned for further discussion. The Bill was moved by Dr. Attiya Inayatullah and Dr. Donya Aziz.
The House also sent the Islamabad Capital Territory Pre-emption Bill 2010 to the Standing Committee of the House. The Bill, moved by Sheren Arshad Khan, is aimed at making pre-emption law for Federal Capital like other provinces.
Earlier, taking part in the debate on Karachi situation, the members from both the sides stressed the need for improving the police system in the city and increasing the strength of police personnel to deal with the situation. They suggested a comprehensive operation against various mafias besides computerisation of the land record.