Federal Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid said Sunday that criminals belonging to any group would not get any relaxation on political basis.
Talking to reporters at President House after taking oath as federal minister, he said the law enforcement agencies, including Rangers, had no role in politics and they were taking actions according to the unanimous decisions of the democratically elected government.
If anybody had complaint regarding the operation in Karachi, he could approach the independent judiciary, he said, adding, “We do politics of reconciliation and not that of expediency.”
He said if any criminal used the flag and office of any political party, then it was obligation of that political party to surrender the person to the law.
The minister said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was determined to root out terrorism and the armed forces and security agencies were successfully continuing the operation Zarb-e-Azb for the elimination of terrorism.
“Nobody will be allowed to indulge in crime on the pretext of religion and politics,” he warned. “I believe that all the political parties in parliament will back the law enforcement agencies and cooperate with state institutions to ensure supremacy of law.”
Senator Pervaiz said, “Whether a criminal is in a madressah (religious seminary) or in the office of a political party he will be apprehended. Any hurdle in this process will be removed.” He said all the political parties were together on issues of eradication of terrorism and overcoming energy crisis and economic difficulties.
Responding to a question, the minister said all institutions of the country should be respected and indecent and inappropriate language should not be used against them. He said the culture of abuse and bullet should end. The political leaders should respect and follow the laws related to the integrity and honour of the security institutions of Pakistan.
“One should realize that the choice of words also has an effect on one’s own personality,” he noted.
The minister strongly condemned the terror incident in Lahore and said all Pakistanis irrespective of their religion were brothers and sisters. It was responsibility of the government to arrest and bring to justice those who perpetrated the heinous terror attack in Lahore, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister Mushahidullah Khan condemned the terror incident in Lahore and said enemies of Pakistan were involved in terrorist activities in the country. He said Pakistan was a nuclear country and its enemies did not want it to make progress and become a strong nation.
“With these incidents, we will not get blackmailed on the Karachi operation and Zarb-e-Azb.” He said the government was determined against terrorists and would not compromise on its stance on terrorism.
Earlier, President Mamnoon Hussain administered the oath of offices to Senators Pervez Rashid and Mushahid Ullah Khan as federal ministers in a ceremony held here at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Sunday.