Rabbani for evolving narrative to combat terrorism

PESHAWAR: Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani underscored the need for evolving a comprehensive narrative to effectively combat the menace of terrorism.

The people would have to rise above political affiliations and wage a united struggle for rooting out the menace from the country, Rabbani said on Wednesday while talking to the media at the National Institute of Management.

He said parliament was the supreme institution, which must play its effective role in evolving a workable counter-narrative to get rid of terrorism. Expressing concerns over the prevailing security situation in the region, he said relations with India could not improve unless the Kashmir issue was addressed as per the aspirations of the people of held Kashmir.

He said terrorism was a global issue and close coordination among regional countries was imperative to get rid of it. Provinces had yet to fully reap the fruits of the 18th Amendment as they failed to utilise the powers devolved to them, he added.

Under the amendment, the Council of Common Interests had been strengthened, which provided a proper mechanism to address disputes among the provinces, he added. He called for increasing powers of the upper house as it provided equal representation to all the provinces. The Senate should be given a role in budget preparation, besides matters of national importance, he added.

He said a reforms package in the Fata should be implemented as per the aspirations of tribal people. Legislation in that regard should be expedited. The reforms package was currently with the National Assembly he said and assured that it would be passed by the Senate as soon as it was tabled before it.

Later, the Senate chairman spoke on the topic of “challenges and implementation of provincial autonomy in the context of 18th Constitutional Amendment” before the officers and participants of mid-career management course.