ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Thursday criticised the previous government’s multibillion rupees Safe City Project which was executed to boost safety and security in the federal capital but has allegedly failed to serve the purpose.
“Over 1,800 cameras were purchased for the project but not even one has the ability to identify faces or number plates,” State Minister for Interior Shehryar Afridi informed the Upper House. “Of the cameras, 600 are not even functioning,” he claimed. “I demand that an inquiry be conducted into the purchase of cameras for the Safe City Project,” he said. “In my own capacity, I will also probe this matter,” he said, adding that the political party which received kickbacks through the project should be dealt with strictly.
Giving policy statement over the killing of SP Tahir Dawar, whose body was later found from Afghanistan, Afridi informed the Upper House that some elements were making attempts to destabilize and polarize the country. He maintained that anti-state forces were active “hence we should also get united to tackle all nefarious designs of the enemies against our country.” “We are answerable for this incident and we will bring all those responsible to book, either they are in Afghanistan or Pakistan,” Afridi said, adding that the government is in touch with Afghan authorities for probe into the matter.
The minister said brother and sister-in-law of SP Dawar had also been killed in the past, while the SP himself had already survived two suicide attacks. He said the police officer was under serious security threat that’s why he had to stay away from KP for seven long years.
Afridi said Dawar was abducted from Islamabad, and later taken to FATA through Punjab. Lack of patrolling along other side of Afghan border helped the abductors execute their plan to shift Dawar to Afghanistan without any trouble, he said. “We have asked Afghan government several times to ensure patrolling along the border, but in vain,” he said, adding that a number of Pakistani citizens have been kidnapped and taken to Afghanistan in the past. He said the prime minister had taken notice of the incident and ordered an immediate inquiry.
Meanwhile, legislators in the Upper House of parliament unanimously passed a resolution seeking serious steps by the government to get Pakistani scientist Dr Aafia Siddiqui released from the US prison.
The resolution was tabled after Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani suspended the routine proceedings. ‘This House condemns detention of Dr Aafia Siddiqui for such a long period. The US authorities were approached many a time for release of Dr Aafia but none of the requests were considered,” the resolution states. “Government should take appropriate measures to ensure release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui from the US prison, where she is being treated wrongly,” it added.
Sanjrani directed the Senate Secretariat to sent the resolution to Foreign Office and other relevant departments of the government for necessary action and the follow-up.
Published in Daily Times, November 16th 2018.
