Former Senate chairman and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Senator Raza Rabbani has asked for clarity on the deal recently reached between the government and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) organistaion.
In a session of the Senate, Rabbani said that Pakistani soldiers were suffering deadly attacks despite the supposed ceasefire with the TTP. Referring to the claims of Prime Minister Imran Khan about creating a moral state, he said, “Riasat-e-Madinah cannot be established on secretive agreements.”
Senator Rabbani further opined that Pakistan’s civil and military bureaucracy would have to answer to Parliament.
“The state of Pakistan, unfortunately, does not mean the people sitting in Parliament,” he said. “The state will have to inform the people under what conditions this ceasefire deal was reached.”
Pointing out the failure of the ceasefire so far in preventing attacks on Pakistani soil or hindering the reorganisation of anti-Pakistan armed groups in Afghanistan, the Senator said:
“Until the root causes of the problems are ascertained issues will continue to arise.” He further noted: “Extremist groups have torn up the state’s writ to shreds.”
Referring to relations with the new regime in Afghanistan, Senator Rabbani cited reports that Taliban forces at the Pakistan-Afghan frontier were allegedly hindering the process of fencing the border.
“Will the foreign minister brief the parliament about this?” Senator Rabbani asked.
The Senator also noted the need for the state to address the missing persons’ question, as well as to implement the National Action Plan to bring an end to violent extremism and stop using religion to advance a political agenda.
