- State minister calls Gilgit-Baltistan region as beautiful ‘province’
- ‘I’m not here to dictate GB govt,’ Afridi tells PML-N’s govt
GILGIT: State Minister for Interior Affairs Shahryar Khan Afridi has said that the main focus of the government at centre is strengthening of the federal units and economic empowerment of the people and assured that the Pakistan Muslim League-N-led government in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) would be given full respect and honour as given to others federating units.
“I came here to listen problems of people of this beautiful province and not to dictate any things to the regional government in Gilgit-Baltistan,” he said while addressing a high-level meeting in connection with the Muharram security arrangements here on Wednesday. “Our government is focusing on development and progress of all the neglected areas like Gilgit-Baltistan,” he said.
He said that the federal government would make every endeavour to provide all basic amenities of life to people of this province at their doorsteps. He said that the federal government would protect interest of the country at any cost come what may. He said the era of ‘do more’ has gone rather its period of ‘no more.’
We will not hand over our rights and security for our personal gains to the aliens as the previous regimes used to do so. We are the citizens of this country which has been bestowed with Almighty Allah gifted natural resources in abundance,” he said. Unfortunately, he said that the previous successive governments had ignored the remote and backward areas.
Earlier, the state minister was given detailed briefing on the security arrangements made for peaceful observance of Ashura Muharram. He assured full support of the federal government to the regional government in the maintenance of public order. He also visited Imamia Masjid and the Central Mosque and met the people of the occasion.
The meeting was attended by Law Minister Muhammad Aurangzaib, chief secretary, police chief, head of GB Scouts and representatives of other security agencies. In a brief chat with the media persons, Afridi said that the government was taking steps to remove sense of deprivation of the GB people. To a question, he said that all the stakeholders were on same page viz-a-viz national security.
He held categorical assurance that the federal government would continue support to the regional government in Gilgit Baltistan which has been elected through a democratic process. He said that protection to life and properties was the sole responsibilities of the government and no comprise would be made in this regard. “All are equal before us whether they are in majority or in minority in Pakistan,” the state minister concluded.
Afridi meets religious scholars: State Minister for Interior Affairs Shahryar Khan Afridi has said that the federal government will not compromise on the national security and will implement the National Action Plan (NAP) in letter and spirit.
He expressed these views during an important meeting with religious scholars of different schools of thoughts here. Afridi said that maintaining law and order was the top most priorities of the government and no comprise would be made on issues related to the national security.
He said Almighty Allah has bestowed Muslims with all kinds of blessings. “We had divided ourselves in different sects, resultantly our problems increased due to distance from true teachings of Islam,” he said. “All our problems can be addressed by holding tight to the rope of Almighty Allah and strictly adhering to the teachings of Islam,” he said.
The state minister said that great responsibilities rest on the shoulders of the Islamic scholars to work tirelessly for peace, education and reformation of the society.
