Senate echoes with call for national reconciliation, reset of priorities

ISLAMABAD: In a reconciliatory tone, Opposition Leader in the Senate Dr Shahzad Waseem Tuesday called for charting a national priority agenda as per the present time needs, putting aside political differences and varying interests.

He spoke after the Question-Hour during which the chair directed the Senate secretary to write to the interim PM to ensure presence of ministers concerned during the Question-Hour.

Dr. Shahzad underlined that the political forces must sit together to ponder over tangible solutions to the problems and determine minimum common ground and agenda of priorities, saying there was an urgent need to reset the national priorities, noting that economic stability and continuity of policies must be atop the common national agenda.

Interim Premier Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar came under fire in the House for his remarks against the Baloch people protesting in the Federal Capital against what they term as enforced disappearances.

Earlier, during the Question-Hour, the Senate was told that the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and inaction of the interim Afghan government against the TTP offered it an opportunity to increase its influence, presence and activities.

It was noted that the TTP was mostly concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially the merged districts (erstwhile tribal areas) with footprints in Balochistan and was trying to activate its network in the country.

The ministry said that Daesh was also trying to establish its foothold in Pakistan, which resorted to terrorist activities against the minorities to ignite sectarian strife in the country. “The fencing along the western borders of Pakistan has largely been completed to further strengthen the state mechanism of curbing illegal movement from across the border. However, two organizations, in particular TTP, continue to sabotage the fencing,” it said. The House was informed that more than 500,000 illegal immigrants had been repatriated so far under the government’s deportation drive against the aliens.