Opposition demands clarification from Rasheed regarding terrorist attacks

Senate chairman directs interior minister to brief upper house on January 24

Opposition senators have demanded a clarification from Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed regarding the recent terrorist incidents in the country, which includes the Lahore blast on Thursday in which three people died.

The opposition pressed Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjarani to suspend normal proceedings in order to debate the law and order situation in the country.

Senator Raza Rabbani condemned the recent terrorist incidents in the country. He said the militant outfit Balochistan Nationalist Army (BNP) had claimed responsibility for the attack, but Rasheed said that Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was responsible. Rabbani necessitated that the interior minister clarify his statements.

Senator Yousuf Raza Gillani said terror incidents were on the rise and the interior minister must brief the parliament regarding the matter. He added that media reports were not enough to ascertain the facts.

At the opposition’s demand, Rasheed appeared before the house and stated that there were “distinct objectives” behind the killing of the policeman in Islamabad, adding that investigation into the incident was underway.

Condemning the Lahore blast, he said that two terrorists had been killed in the Islamabad incident.

Consequently, the opposition moved an adjournment motion seeking clarification from Rasheed. The Senate chairman then told the minister to give a briefing to the Senate regarding the terror incidents and the government’s actions taken on the matter on January 24.