Opposition hits out at Pak govt for failing to act against banned outfits

Opposition leaders in Pakistan have reportedly lashed out at the PML-N government for failing to act against the banned outfits in keeping with its own National Internal Security Policy (NISP) and National Action Plan to counter terrorism.

Taking part in a debate on Pakistan's internal security policy on the private members' day, leaders from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan Muslim League (Q) attacked the government for "allowing the proscribed organisations to continue their operations in the country without any hindrance," reported the Dawn.

PPP's Farhatullah Babar initiated the debate on his own motion by expressing regret at the fact that members of banned outfits such as, Maulana Masood Azhar of Jaish-i-Mohammad, were roaming freely "right under the nose of rulers."

He pointed out that a law passed in March last year stipulated that a banned outfit could not be resurrected under a different name. He added that a public declaration by Asmatullah Muawiya of Punjabi Taliban to train guns on Afghanistan without being challenged by the government showed that nation cherished "dubious external security goals."

He also criticized the government for mentioning the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as a law-enforcement agency in the NISP document.

ANP's Zahid Khan called the PML-N dispensation a "continuation of the Ziaul Haq regime" which introduced jihad in the country in the 1980s.

PML-Q's Kamil Ali Agha claimed that even government members were seen meeting with people belonging to proscribed outfits.