ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday urged the political leadership not to spread hate and extremism in the upcoming general election and focus on their manifesto to ensure peaceful election.
Talking to media person after inaugurating the Citizen Service Centre of Islamabad Police, the minister said that it was the responsibility of the political leadership to maintain political stability in the country.
Ahsan Iqbal said joint efforts are needed to root out the extremism from the country, adding that “I was also attacked on May 6 due to this chain of extremism.”
“We have divided Pakistan of Quaid-e-Azam into different sections and joint efforts are required to address the issues of the terrorism and extremism,” the minister added.
He said that it was the responsibility of the state to punish or reward, adding that after the terrorism incident “I am committed to work for the promotion of love and brotherhood”.
To a question about the performance of the government, the minister said the government had presented better Pakistan to the masses as compared to that of 2013.
Ahsan Iqbal said the government was almost eliminating the menace of terrorism from the country with the help of operation Zarb-e-Azb and Raad-ul-Fasaad and there was hardly a single minor terrorist incident in a month.
The minister said the economic growth had increased from 3 percent to 6 percent due to the concrete steps of the present government, adding improvements in macroeconomic indicators could be seen in all the fields.
Ahsan Iqbal said that in 2013, the masses were facing 18 to 20 hours load shedding but present government has added 10,000 megawatt electricity in the national grid with its own resources.
The minister said that no government had ever produced such quantity of electricity in the history which was produced by the present government, adding that country has enough electricity to use.
“The present government has fulfilled the promise of zero load-shedding in the country but there is dire need to improve the transmission and distribution system,” the minister said.
He said the government has formulated the Water Policy with the help of provincial government, adding that it had also initiated work on two dams including Diamer Bhasha Dam and Munda Dam with consensus.
To another question, the minister said that there is no confusion in the policy of Exit Control List (ECL) as per in the light of the decision of the Supreme Court, no name can be entered or exit without the approval of Cabinet.
Ahsan Iqbal said that it was in the larger interest of the country to hold upcoming general elections on July 25 and hoped that it will be held in time.
The minister congratulated the public of the federal capital for the establishment of Citizen Service Centre to fastest response, real time processing, one window operation, and automation of essential citizen.
He said that the government has introduced the system of model police stations under which seven have been upgraded in the first phase while seven more will be upgraded for which budget has been allocated.
While congratulating the residents of the Islamabad, he said it was a great achievement of the government for the establishment of the 21st century latest police facilitation centre.
Ahsan Iqbal said that funds have been allocated for the establishment of new Anti Riots Force which will be consisted of 1000 policemen to stop the sit-ins also and maintain peace in the capital.
The minister said the height of these Jawans will be 5 feet and 11inches and they will be trained on a scientific basis.
Ahsan Iqbal said that for the establishment of Police Hospital an amount of Rs 2 billion was allocated in the budget that will not only facilitate the police of the federal capital but also the policemen across the country.
He appreciated the efforts of Inspector General of Police Dr Sultan Azam Temuri for implementing the vision of present government and his hard work and commitment for the welfare of police.
Inspector General of Police, Dr Sultan Azam Temuri and other senior officials of the Ministry of Interior and police were also present on the occasion.