ISLAMABAD - The attacks on Jinnah International Airport Karachi and Shia pilgrims in Taftan, Balochsitan, Monday overshadowed the National Assembly’s budgetary debate, as the opposition benches termed it a negligence of the government while cautioning to take appropriate measures to avoid attacks on PM House, President House and Parliament.
The opposition parties condemning these attacks demanded of the government to come up with its clear stance over the ‘Government-TTP Peace negotiations’ and organize fresh All Parties Conference (APC) for future roadmap of peace talks.
The opposition factions in their back-to-back attacks on federal government also came up with some suggestions including non-violation of accord with TTP Commander Hafiz Gul Bhadar, proper measures to avoid attacks on sensitive places include Parliament House.
The treasury benches with the criticism on the absence of Prime Minister and Interior Minister to brief the House also faced a taunt for being ‘paralyze and leaderless government’ to maintain law and order situation in the country.
“It seems the PM kept on searching all his interior minister Ch. Nisar when terrorist attacked Karachi airport and finally found him in the Monday morning and asked him to go to Karachi at least after 24 hours”, said opposition leader Syed Khursheed Shah, strongly criticizing the silence on Interior Ministry on this big incident.
Terming it a ‘national security disaster’, Shah questioned the status of Government-TTP peace negotiations started after the APC’s nod for giving another chance to peace. “People are in state of insecurity. No one is there to solace the people of the country as we have started thinking about the insecurity of parliament,” he added.
Shah also said that government had to think about the security of the country and its people and feared that now the situation has reached at a point that even this parliament is prone to terrorist attacks and Sikh community’s intrusion into it premises exposed all the security apparatus for this place.
About the attacks on pilgrims in Balochistan, he pointed out that it looked weird that these pilgrims remained secured when they are in Iran; but once they entered into the Pakistani’s territory they are attacked immediately by the terrorists.
He further asked Prime Minister not to be afraid of these terrorist. “He should make a resolve that we would fight them like lions”, he added.
Taking the floor, PTI’s deputy parliamentary leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi went some extra mile in his criticism as he termed the incumbent government as ‘paralyzed, directionless, and leaderless’. He also questioned the silence of the Interior Ministry after the criminal negligence of the incumbent government. “He (Nisar) would have rush to Karachi after briefing the parliament as he has facility of special plan” he added.
He also slightly criticized both federal and Sindh governments for indulging in blame game by passing the bucks on each other. He also asked the status of Abbottabad Commission report in his emotional speech.
Sharing the government’s stance, Federal Minister Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Barjis Tahir made an attempt to defend the government. He also tried to term it a provincial matter. “Ch.Nisar will come in the House tomorrow to brief the House about the incidents,” he said asking the opposition parties to give suggestions to control law and order situation.
Supporting his colleague, Minister for Safron Abdul Qadir Baloch said this is a national war and all have to play its positive role.
Taking the floor, the third largest opposition party (MQM) lawmaker Abdul Wasim also criticized Interior Ministry’s silence even after this big incident.
“The loss of lives in Airport terrotist act could have been avoided if concerns and cautions of MQM were properly heard,” he  added.
JI lawmaker Sahibzada Tariqullah said that it should not be termed as a provincial matter.
Later, AML chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed appealed to government and army not to break agreement with Hafiz Gul Bahadur. He further suggested to enhance security of government hostels, parliament house and other sensitive places.