- Directs security officials to devise strategies to address difficult situation facing country, says ‘playing safe will get us nowhere’
- Meets MQM delegation, says maintenance of peace in Karachi shared responsibility of political parties
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan Wednesday said that terrorism cannot be eliminated immediately and that tackling it may take years, adding that provinces should avoid playing blame games after every terror incident.
Addressing a session of the National Assembly, Nisar said that inevitably there is always a reaction to a military operation, adding that security issues should not be politicised. ”Their targets are soft and easy but we are trying to strengthen our mechanism to foil their nefarious designs,” he said, adding that terrorists wanted to spread fear and panic to divide the nation.
“Intelligence agencies share information with provinces and forces whenever sought by provincial governments. No province is held responsible over terrorism neither is any province criticised over the law and order situation,” he said.
“Fingers should be pointed at terrorists instead of pointing them at each other,” said Nisar, adding that protests should have been carried out against terrorists instead of the provincial governments.
“Deteriorating law and order situation should not be termed a failure of provinces,” he said.
The interior minister also cited incidents from across the world, including the lone gunman’s siege in the United States, the militant standoff in Germany, the recent Charlie Hebdo ‘attack in the heart of France’ to make his point.
He said that hundreds of terrorists have been arrested in about 500 intelligence-based operations across the country and added that improved coordination between security agencies and the federal and provincial governments have helped thwart many terrorist attacks.
MOI MEETING:
Moreover, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan chaired a high level meeting of Ministry of Interior and its attached departments.
Addressing the meeting, the interior minister said that Ministry of Interior and its departments, particularly those related to security and law and order, must burn the midnight oil in order to devise strategies and identify policies which can address the difficult situation facing the country.
He stressed upon the need for early identification of problems/issues, timely preventive and pre-emptive steps to address them and better coordination and information sharing between all the relevant departments in order to pursue a coherent and proactive end-policy in the matter.
Security being priority, the minister directed ICT IG to conduct security survey of strategically important buildings and installations in Islamabad and to improve their security. He stressed the need for imparting training to the security guards of various security companies and dove-tail them in the emergency response mechanism of the police.
During the meeting, the Minister directed FIA to proactively pursue the cases of terrorism financing and, in particular, target the cases of illegal transactions through Hawala Hundi.
As for the case of Afghan refugees, Minister directed NADRA to coordinate with SAFRON for the registration through mapping of reportedly over one million Afghan refugees on war footing. He also directed to analyze the transactions made through 667 accounts of Afghan refugees identified by the State Bank and proceed with necessary legal action after due process.
“Our country is passing through the most crucial period when the future of our younger generation is at stake at the hands of terrorists. Tentativeness and playing safe will get us nowhere. This is high time that each, in our positions, realises the importance of firm resolve, proactive initiative and well thought out actions.”
NISAR MEETS MQM DELEGATION:
Separately, the interior minister also met a delegation of Muttahidda Qaumi Movement at Punjab House Wednesday. The MQM delegation comprised Dr Farooq Sattar, Babar Ghouri, Abdul Rasheed Godil and Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui.
Nisar said that maintenance of peace in the metropolis is a shared responsibility of all stakeholders and the political parties need to develop greater coordination among themselves for ensuring law and order and peace in the financial hub of the country.
The minister said that the federal government would continue to provide every possible support to the provincial government for maintenance of law and order and eradicating the menace of terrorism.
The meeting discussed in detail the law and order situation in Sindh, in general, and in Karachi, in particular, especially the progress made so far after the visit of the prime minister to Karachi.
The MQM delegation apprised the Minister about party’s concerns regarding law and order and the security of its leadership. The Minister assured the delegation that their concerns would be addressed.
