SHOs to face music if banned outfits stage rallies: Malik
04 February, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on Friday said the SHO of concerned police station would be suspended if any banned outfit organised a public rally in his area of jurisdiction. Emphasising the need to improve laws to control the activities of banned organisations, Malik said a bill dealing with the activities of banned outfits had been pending with the Senate Standing Committee for the last two years. He was replying to the point of order of Sheikh Waqas Akram criticising that banned organisations were holding public rallies in various cities despite the fact that such activities were banned under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Rehman Malik responded that banned outfits were "organising rallies under different names". He informed the National Assembly that strict action would be taken if any evidence was found that a banned organisation had held a public rally in the capital territory and the SHO of concerned police station would be suspended. The minister said banned organisations were collecting funds under different names, and underlined the importance of proper legislation to curtail their activities. Rehman Malik said law enforcement agencies needed more empowerment to take proper action against the banned organisations, adding that the passage of that bill was necessary to keep a strict check on the activities of banned outfits. He said recommendations of all political parties would be accommodated in making a comprehensive legislation in this regard. Earlier, Sahibzada Fazal Karim also raised concern about the ongoing activities of banned organisations and demanded foolproof security arrangements for public gatherings on 12th Rabiul Awal. Meanwhile, Rehman Malik told the Senate that the murder of the wife and daughter of Mir Bakhtiar Domki, Member of the Balochistan Assembly, was a conspiracy against the country. Replying to various points of order in the upper house of parliament, Rehman Malik said it was not an ordinary incident and the conspirators would not be spared. "Whenever we head towards positive development in Balochistan, such things start happening," he said, adding that it was an attempt to disrupt peace in the province. Rehman Malik said that the government was taking the matter seriously and on the directives of President Asif Ali Zardari, a high-level committee was set up to probe the incident, under the supervision of Additional Inspector General of Police, comprising intelligence and security agencies officials. Malik said that it had been decided that four public representatives, including two MPAs each from Sindh and Balochistan, would also be included in the committee. Regarding the deaths in the Punjab due to spurious medicines, the minister said that he had ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the matter and register an FIR within 12 hours. He said three accused had been arrested but were later set free on the orders of the Supreme Court. The matter is now sub-judice, he added. Rehman Malik said investigations were in progress and the accused had also been also placed on the Exit Control List (ECL). The minister said that such issues could be controlled by setting up the Drug Regulatory Authority. "Earlier, the Punjab had opposed setting up the authority," he added. He said that both the Punjab and federal governments were jointly working to probe the issue thoroughly. End.
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