ISLAMABAD - Ruling out any possibility that Norwegian intelligence operatives were present in Pakistan with the permission of the government, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Friday that it was the duty of ISI and IB to look into such matters.

Responding to the queries of senior PPP leader Raza Rabbani in the Senate, Malik said that he was unable to speak on the issue as both the agencies came under the administrative control of prime minister.
Calling the issue having importance of national security, he said that the senior legislator should put a separate and fresh question before the House and he would reply after getting answer from the quarters concerned.
“We have intelligence reports that some foreigners are going to Balochistan and we have made it mandatory for every foreigner to get no objection certificate (NOC) from the Interior Ministry before entry into the province,” the interior minister said, adding that the law enforcement agencies deputed at the entry points of Balochistan had strictly been directed to bar any foreigner from entering the province without NOC.
Raising four questions on the issue, Rabbani brought the attention of the chair about the report that Norwegian security chief Janne Kristiansen had disclosed in her country’s parliament before quitting that undercover operatives affiliated with the ‘E Wing’ of Norway’s military intelligence were present in Pakistan.
Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice Chairman Kazim Khan presented the report of the committee on the Special Economic Zone Bill, 2010 before the House to set up especial economic zones in Pakistan. Senator Haji Lashkeri Riasani, Chairman of Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power, presented the report on the Private Power and Infrastructure Board Bill, 2011.
Senate Chairman Farooq H Naek referred the Delimitation of Constituencies (Amendment) Bill, 2011 as passed by the National Assembly to the committee concerned after differences emerged between the treasury and the opposition benches over some clauses of the bill.
The bill is aimed at amending the delimitation of Constituencies Act, 1974. The house was adjourned till Monday at 4 pm.