More information still possible from Ehsan, Senate panel told
More information still possible from Ehsan, Senate panel told: Senate committee on Monday was told by a senior officer of the defence ministry that more information could be extracted from Eshanullah Eshan, former spokesman of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP)
Retired Read Admiral, who is a current Additional Secretary Faisal Lodhi in his briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, talked about to the revelation made by Ehsan that the militant group Jamaatul Ahrar (JuA) had a direct link with the Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) intelligence agencies. Mr Lodhi further added that much more information could be obtained from the man who had been a TTP insider.
At the moment, the members of the panel called for his trial. Additional Secretary Faisal Lodhi said that Ehsan was believed to have had a role in a number of terrorist incidents, the list of his involvement in the attack include high profile incidents such as attacks on the Bacha Khan airport, the attack on tourists in Gilgit-Baltistan, Wagah border and in Mohmand Agency and the killing of Punjab home minister retired Col Shuja Khanzada.
Mr Lodhi assured the committee that due process of law would be adhered to and ruled out immediate disposal of the case.
Mr Lodhi clarified the policy of the government that there were no ‘good or bad Taliban’, he added that this was the stated policy of the government.
In response to a question about Eshan Ullah Eshan’s whereabouts, Mr Lodhi replied briefly that “In the custody of the intelligence agency concerned.”
The members of the committee were highly critical of the government’s policy towards militant organisations and regretted what the members considered ‘glorification’ of Ehsan.
TTP has opened offices in Tank, Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu, this allegation came from Senator Saleh Shah of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The Senator also alleged the government of supporting terrorist organisations.
The official clarified that there was no intention to glorify Ehsan and the security agencies had achieved their operational objectives with the airing of his confessional statement on television channels.
Tahir Mashhadi of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement said that the former TTP spokesman should be tried under relevant laws, Mr Mashhadi also emphasised that due process of law must be followed. He also called to abstain from portraying people like Ehsan as heroes on TV channels and for treating ‘terrorists as terrorists’.
Barrister Mohammed Ali Saif said that a split in the TTP after the death of its chief Hakimullah Mehsud along with the differences between Mullah Fazlullah and Khalid Khorasani led to the formation of JuA. Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif disagreed with the ‘revelation’ that the JuA had links with RAW and NDS.
The barrister was of the view that presenting Ehsan on TV channels would create hurdles in his prosecution. He said the same was the case with Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav
Committee’s chairman Rehman Malik said that the former TTP spokesman had earlier openly declared his allegiance to the militant Islamic State (IS) group. “If the government wants to make him an approver, then proper procedure must be adopted. The government should not bring him on TV.”
Senator Rehman also raised questions over the way the government had handled the case of Jadhav in the International Court of Justice, Mr Malik also asked why the attorney general did not represent the country and an ad hoc judge was not appointed.
The highlight of the meeting was a walkout by Senator Mukhtiar Ahmad Dhamrah, the Senator had walked out in protest against absence of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Minister of State Baleeghur Rahman.
The chairman declared that a privilege motion would be moved against the ministers if they missed the next meeting.
For More News:
Visit HumSub TV