Appearing from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad & Quetta

Wednesday, February 10, 2010, Safar 25, 1431

No Blackwater in Pakistan, insists Malik

Terence J Sigamony

Islamabad—Federal Minister for Interior once again confirmed to that company with the name of Blackwater does not exist in Pakistan and only the hype was created in the media.

The interior minister told the National Assembly that the statements of US Secretary Defence Robert Gates and Provincial Minister for Information Bashir Bilour were misquoted by media regarding presence of Blackwater and Dyn Corp in Pakistan. “US Secretary Defence Robert Gates and Bashir Bilour were misquoted by the media as both have categorically denied the presence of Blackwater in Pakistan.” Responding to the Calling Attention Notice, he said that intelligence agencies including FIA, MI, IB and ISI have investigated the matter and according to their report found Blackwater was not operating in Pakistan. He said that if any member had proof he or she pass on to the ministry and would again investigate it.

He also asked that House Committee should be constituted to remove members’ misperception regarding BlackWater presence in Pakistan. Chaudhary Barjees Tahir, Mohammad Baligh-ur-Rehman, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Sh. Aftab Ahmed and Surriya Asghar through Calling Attention Notice had drawn the attention of the House regarding the presence of guards of BlackWater in NWFP for the security of US officials. In response to bad law and order situation in the country, the minister stated that he was ready to give in-camera briefing to the parliamentarians. “I will inform the House during in-camera briefing about the things which it does not know,” the minister claimed. Chief Whip Pakistan Muslim League Sheikh Aftab stated that they were ready for it. But Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi, who was chairing the session, said that there was procedure for it and only Leader of the House could request for it. Rehman Malik informed that according to sub-section 4 of Article 74 of the Constitution law and order was a provincial subject and the provinces.

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