TTP ceasefire end: Rabbani calls for joint session of parliament

ISLAMABAD: Expressing concerns over re-emergence of militancy after Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended the ceasefire, Senator Mian Raza Rabbani reiterated his demand for holding the joint session of the parliament.

The former chairman Senate demanded to convene the joint sitting of the parliament immediately to discuss the end of ceasefire by TTP, government’s negotiations with the TTP and outlawed militant alliance’s threat to carry out attacks throughout the country.

In addition, he also demanded reshaping of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security and electing its chairman other than the speaker National Assembly, saying that the speaker National Assembly could not chair the Parliamentary Committee on National Security effectively due to time constraints.

It indicates that the state wants to keep the people of the country in the dark, as the announcement of ending ceasefire was made by the TTP, said Rabbani, adding the state has been concealing the facts despite the rising incidents of terrorism throughout the country, particularly in KP.

Senator Mian Raza Rabbani said the incidents of sporadic attacks, extortions and kidnappings have increased in Swat and inhabitants of the valley held massive rallies against the rise in insurgency.

However, the state has refused to engage with peaceful civilian movement that has a potential to rise against the militancy, remarked the former chairman Senate, adding, “I made repeated demands for the joint session of parliament to discuss the increase in the incidents of terrorism but it fell on deaf ears.” He added the state has failed to provide adequate infrastructure despite the lapse of four years since FATA’s merger with KP. Senator Mian Raza Rabbani demanded for a state-forward policy to deal with violent extremism rather than adopting stick and carrot approach.