Malik offered to resign from his position if it was proved that assassination was the result of a security laps

ISLAMABAD, March 4 : Interior Minister Rehman Malik has asked the National Assembly to agree to the formation of a Parliamentary Committee or Judicial Commission to investigate the murder of Minorities Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti and offered to resign from his position if it was proved that assassination was the result of a security lapse.

Winding up debate in the National Assembly Friday on the murder of the Minorities Affairs Minister, Rehman Malik asserted that there was no security lapse. He offered that the parliamentary committee headed by Ch Birjees Tahir or any other member of the opposition should investigate the whole matter. He said if terrorism could end with his resignation, he was prepared to do that.

He said full security was provided to Shahbaz Bhatti but as he was worried about his security, he was spending night at his mother’s residence instead of official house in I-8 sector of the capital. He said he never took security along whenever he went to his mother’s house to keep that place secret. He said had Bhatti not done so, perhaps the incident could have been avoided. He said President Zardari arranged a friend’s bullet proof vehicle for Shahbaz Bhatti which he returned on the ground that it was second hand. He said he sought permission for bullet proof cars for the cabinet members but opposition strongly opposed it and the matter was deferred.

The interior minister said he was not running but there must be some connection and not propaganda and if needed in the national interest he would resign. He pleaded for an end to blame game.

Rehman Malik said maximum number of acts of terrorism had taken place in Punjab and said terrorists have safe havens in Southern Punjab. He referred to the killing of Punjab Governor Salman Taseer at the hands of a police personnel as well as attacks at the GHQ in Rawalpindi, FIA office in Lahore, Moon Market, assassination of Mufti Sarfaraz Naeemi and attack on Rashid Akbar, MNA in Bhakkar and said nobody asked the person (Shahbaz Sharif) responsible for the law and order in Punjab for his resignation.

He said the blame game was destroying the country and “we will have to stop it and a way out would have to be found.”

He strongly defended the ISI and Islamabad police. “Had ISI not been here, we would not have been here” Malik told the critics.

He said they have been foiling several incidents of terrorism and arresting suspected terrorists every week. He also saluted the Islamabad Police and said that despite criticism, they are fighting terrorists. He said the Capital Police force is very limited in number having no bullet proof jackets and inadequate transport which they start by pushing them and despite this they were bravely confronting the extremists.

The interior minister said drug and Kalashnikov culture came from Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. He warned that the hostile elements will not give up and the country was heading for difficult times.

Rehman Malik said Shahbaz Bhatti’s murder should open our eyes and give us a lesson to work together in unison. He said at least the politicians from all shades of opinion should unite on security and foreign policy and look towards one direction and that is Pakistan.

“We need unity to protect our future generations, and if you will not join hands, you will have extremists in the country,” he cautioned.

He said today every Pakistani is saying that Taliban are enemies of Pakistan. He vowed to continue his job till the demise of Taliban. He disclosed that he was number one at the hit-list of militants, Sherry Rehman at no2 and Fauzia Wahab at no3.

Rehman Malik assured that no stone will be left unturned to apprehend killers of Shahbaz Bhatti and bring them to justice. He said that investigation teams were working day and night to apprehend the culprits.

Rehman Malik said when the present government took over law and order situation was so weak that everyone was feeling insecure. He said during the last three years we made successful efforts to root out terrorism and carried out successful operation against terrorists. He expressed confidence that the government with the cooperation of whole nation will emerge successful in flushing out these handful elements who were trying to play with the lives of the citizens. He said deteriorating law and order situation is also leading towards worsening economic situation that cannot be afforded.

Rehman Malik said that some hidden hands are involved in widening gap between various sects of Muslims and our minorities. He said these elements have nefarious designs to break the country but we will foil these conspiracies.