pkpatriotic
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Army called out to protect parliament
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
RAWALPINDI: The Army was called out on Tuesday night to protect the federal capital against any security threat in view of the volatile security situation across the country as the joint session of parliament meets today (Wednesday) for an in-camera briefing.
Three companies of the Pakistan Army took up positions in the 'Red Zone' of Islamabad to protect the Parliament House, the Aiwan-e-Sadr and the whole of Constitution Avenue against any security threat.
Secretary Interior Syed Kamal Shah told Jang that besides the police, Frontier Constabulary and Rangers, the Pakistan Army personnel would provide security to all sensitive installations in the capital. The Red Zone was also declared a 'no-go area'. Only parliamentarians and limited staff of the National Assembly would be allowed to enter the no-go areas.
The Interior Ministry issued a new security plan for the in-camera session of parliament which was enforced forthwith. Under the plan, special arrangements have been made for surveillance of the capital besides detectors to sense any explosive material while helicopters would provide air cover to the Parliament House and the surrounding areas. Sniffer dogs have also been brought out in the Red Zone. Personnel of the Bomb Disposal Squad have also been deployed to meet any untoward eventuality.
Asim Yasin adds: The in-camera session of parliament is being held today to brief the MPs on the security situation in the country. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has also invited all the national leaders of the country, including those of the All Pakistan Democratic Movement (APDM), to attend the session as special guests.
On Tuesday, the prime minister invited chief of PML-Q Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmed, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, PKMAP chief Mehmood Khan Achackzai, JUP (Noorani) chief Anas Noorani, Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, Pir Pagara, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and Sardar Attaullah Mengal to attend the briefing on security issues.
A day earlier he had invited Nawaz Sharif, who had accepted the invitation. However, the APDM leaders have so far not indicated whether or not they would attend the special session. The governors and the chief ministers of all the four provinces have also been invited as special guests.
Sources said under the rules non-members invited as guests will sit in the galleries but will not participate in the proceedings of the House. The session has been summoned by President Asif Ali Zardari, who in his maiden address to parliament had offered to arrange an in-camera briefing for MPs on the security situation.
The director-general military operations will brief the joint session on "internal threat of terrorism and progress of operation in Fata and Swat." Officials of the Army and the law-enforcement agencies will brief parliamentarians on the prevailing security/law and order situation and rise in suicide attacks over the past 12 months as well as the steps being taken to fight terrorism and militancy.
Sources said the session would be exhaustive in which there will be an open debate on the security threats to Pakistan with particular reference to the in Fata situation. Sources said that the in-camera session would provide the parliamentarians with all the necessary inside information required to understand the security issue in its entirety.
The Army will explain the rationale for the military operation in the tribal areas and how long it will continue. It will also explain the steps being taken to reduce the civilian casualties, and to win the hearts and minds of the people.
The first in-camera session was held during the tenure of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1974 in which Qadianis were declared non-Muslim. The second in-camera session of parliament was held during the tenure of Muhammad Khan Junejo in which the then minister of state for foreign affairs Zain Noorani briefed parliament about the Afghan war.
The third in-camera briefing for the joint sitting of parliament was held during the government of Nawaz Sharif in 1998 on the nuclear issue, which lasted for three days. Today's session is likely to continue for some days in view of the sensitivity and importance of the issue.
Meanwhile, leader of the House in the Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani and chief whip of the ruling coalition in the National Assembly and Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower Syed Khursheed Shah apprised the prime minister at the Prime Minister's House of the arrangements for today's session.
Talking to The News Mian Raza Rabbani said the joint sitting is in line with the government's agenda of building national consensus on important issues confronting the nation and fulfils its pledge that all decisions will be taken by parliament.
He said internal terrorism threatens the federation so it is essential that bi-partisan approach be adopted to rid Pakistan of this menace. "Extending invitation to those leaders who are not members of parliament is yet another step in the direction of building national consensus," he added.
He said that internal terrorism threatens not only the social fabric of our society but seeks to derail the democratic process and dismantle democratic institutions. "It is, therefore, essential that the democratic forces get united to save the federation," he added
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
RAWALPINDI: The Army was called out on Tuesday night to protect the federal capital against any security threat in view of the volatile security situation across the country as the joint session of parliament meets today (Wednesday) for an in-camera briefing.
Three companies of the Pakistan Army took up positions in the 'Red Zone' of Islamabad to protect the Parliament House, the Aiwan-e-Sadr and the whole of Constitution Avenue against any security threat.
Secretary Interior Syed Kamal Shah told Jang that besides the police, Frontier Constabulary and Rangers, the Pakistan Army personnel would provide security to all sensitive installations in the capital. The Red Zone was also declared a 'no-go area'. Only parliamentarians and limited staff of the National Assembly would be allowed to enter the no-go areas.
The Interior Ministry issued a new security plan for the in-camera session of parliament which was enforced forthwith. Under the plan, special arrangements have been made for surveillance of the capital besides detectors to sense any explosive material while helicopters would provide air cover to the Parliament House and the surrounding areas. Sniffer dogs have also been brought out in the Red Zone. Personnel of the Bomb Disposal Squad have also been deployed to meet any untoward eventuality.
Asim Yasin adds: The in-camera session of parliament is being held today to brief the MPs on the security situation in the country. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has also invited all the national leaders of the country, including those of the All Pakistan Democratic Movement (APDM), to attend the session as special guests.
On Tuesday, the prime minister invited chief of PML-Q Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Qazi Hussain Ahmed, PTI Chairman Imran Khan, PKMAP chief Mehmood Khan Achackzai, JUP (Noorani) chief Anas Noorani, Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, Pir Pagara, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and Sardar Attaullah Mengal to attend the briefing on security issues.
A day earlier he had invited Nawaz Sharif, who had accepted the invitation. However, the APDM leaders have so far not indicated whether or not they would attend the special session. The governors and the chief ministers of all the four provinces have also been invited as special guests.
Sources said under the rules non-members invited as guests will sit in the galleries but will not participate in the proceedings of the House. The session has been summoned by President Asif Ali Zardari, who in his maiden address to parliament had offered to arrange an in-camera briefing for MPs on the security situation.
The director-general military operations will brief the joint session on "internal threat of terrorism and progress of operation in Fata and Swat." Officials of the Army and the law-enforcement agencies will brief parliamentarians on the prevailing security/law and order situation and rise in suicide attacks over the past 12 months as well as the steps being taken to fight terrorism and militancy.
Sources said the session would be exhaustive in which there will be an open debate on the security threats to Pakistan with particular reference to the in Fata situation. Sources said that the in-camera session would provide the parliamentarians with all the necessary inside information required to understand the security issue in its entirety.
The Army will explain the rationale for the military operation in the tribal areas and how long it will continue. It will also explain the steps being taken to reduce the civilian casualties, and to win the hearts and minds of the people.
The first in-camera session was held during the tenure of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1974 in which Qadianis were declared non-Muslim. The second in-camera session of parliament was held during the tenure of Muhammad Khan Junejo in which the then minister of state for foreign affairs Zain Noorani briefed parliament about the Afghan war.
The third in-camera briefing for the joint sitting of parliament was held during the government of Nawaz Sharif in 1998 on the nuclear issue, which lasted for three days. Today's session is likely to continue for some days in view of the sensitivity and importance of the issue.
Meanwhile, leader of the House in the Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani and chief whip of the ruling coalition in the National Assembly and Federal Minister for Labour and Manpower Syed Khursheed Shah apprised the prime minister at the Prime Minister's House of the arrangements for today's session.
Talking to The News Mian Raza Rabbani said the joint sitting is in line with the government's agenda of building national consensus on important issues confronting the nation and fulfils its pledge that all decisions will be taken by parliament.
He said internal terrorism threatens the federation so it is essential that bi-partisan approach be adopted to rid Pakistan of this menace. "Extending invitation to those leaders who are not members of parliament is yet another step in the direction of building national consensus," he added.
He said that internal terrorism threatens not only the social fabric of our society but seeks to derail the democratic process and dismantle democratic institutions. "It is, therefore, essential that the democratic forces get united to save the federation," he added
tell him he was 200% right in saying so.
me too
EAT DRINK AND THEY WILL SAY 
