Friday, April 17, 2009

Shocking extent of terrorism in Pakistan


ISLAMABAD: Pakistan was rocked by 1,842 incidents of terrorism during a fourteen month period from January 2008 to March 2009.The interior ministry revealed these shocking figures to the National Assembly during its question hour.According to the figures, an average of five terrorist incidents took place in the country every day during the last fourteen months. The highest number of 1,122 terrorist incidents took place in Balochistan. NWFP was rocked by 692 terrorist incidents, followed by 12 in Punjab, 09 in Sindh and 7 in Islamabad.However, National Assembly was informed that the government did not present a single inquiry report about terrorist incidents to the parliament.In response to another question, the interior ministry informed the National Assembly that at least 6,169 foreigners, including 162 women, were imprisoned in Pakistani jails during 2008-2009.The highest number of 5,087 illegal foreigners are imprisoned in Balochistan.Also in the National Assebly, the government assured the house it will not allow the Taliban to collect Islamic tax or Jaziya from minorities in Buner and Orakzai agency.Federal Minister for minority affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti, told the National Assembly that the government condemns the harassment of Sikh families by Taliban militants in Buner and Orakzai tribal agency.
Raising the issue of harassment of minorities on a point of order, the legislators told the House that Taliban had demanded Rs5 million from a Sikh family in Buner.
Sources say leaders of Sikh community have written letters to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and prime Minister Yousaf raza Gillani, apprising them of their plight.
The National Assembly was later adjourned to meet again on Monday to discuss President Asif Zardari’s address to the parliament.

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