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Information suggests attack like Peshawar being planned: Nisar
Minister asks nation to remain vigilant, inform authorities about any suspicious person, activityINP
ISLAMABAD - Minister for Interior Affairs Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has disclosed that terrorists are planning another Peshawar like attack. He asked the nation to remain vigilant and inform the authorities about any suspicious person or activity.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday evening, he said that the nation must realise that we are in a state of war and the enemy is within us and not from outside. He said that the entire nation must fully back the Pakistan Army and every citizen will have to contribute his share in the war on terror. Lambasting propaganda and justifications for the attack on the Peshawar school, Nisar said that the Pakistan Army had never targeted women and children. He pointed out that the army could have razed entire city of Miranshah to ground in one or two airstrikes but abstained from doing so only to save the civilians living there. He said that terrorists lived in Miranshah and other parts of Pakistan along with the common population. “Even Osama bin laden’s family was sent back to their countries in a dignified manner,” he said.
He said that civilised world has certain rules for even wars and these rules have been laid down by Islam. “Pakistan Army never targets the women and kids even if the target is of high importance”, he said. Talking about the Action Plan Committee, Nisar said, “Our committee has been given one week only to finish our job. We are working day in and day out for finalising the recommendations. He hoped that the committee would finalise its recommendations within the given time. He said that in order to find out terrorists, an operation has been launched in Islamabad and provincial governments have also been sent letter for similar operations which would continue for an indefinite period. Police officers and SHOs have been directed to improve surveillance in their areas. DPOs have been directed to keep strict check in sensitive areas. SHOs will be responsible for any terrorist operating from their area”.
“Hotel owners will be held responsible for any terrorists found in their hotels. I request all the hotel owners to strictly scrutinise anyone who wants to stay at their hotel,” he said. “Common people of Pakistan must share information with the security agencies. Verbal condemnation will not be enough now. We have to play our part throughout the 24 hours”. He said that free media is the jewel in the crown of democracy and played a great role in delivering the message to the common people of Pakistan. However, it cannot be allowed to air the speeches of the people endorsing Peshawar attack and other terrorist activities.
Regulation for media is also being prepared and it is not linked with the terrorists. We cannot allow advertising of the people who cut throats of kids. New regulation is being made for tenants as well. There were certain houses that were rented out at extremely high rates in Miranshah which were used by the terrorists. “More than half million unregistered sims have been cancelled so far on the intervention of the Interior Ministry but such sims are still being used for terrorism. Giving an example he said, 5 sims of the same company were issued from the same shop on one ID card. All these sims were used by the terrorists of Peshawar attack. We appreciate the investment in telecommunication sector but the companies must also keep strict check on such activities. If such a case surfaces in future, FIR will be registered against the company,” he said.
He said that this was not going to be a cricket or hockey match. He said that this war will take a long time to end. Sharing his concerns about the capacity of the police to fight terrorism, he said that police has not been trained for fighting terrorism. “It has always been trained for maintaining law and order. But we are trying to train it on these lines as well now”, he said. He said, “I assure you that civil-military agencies will together be able to win this war but we have to keep our guard up throughout this war and fight these terrorists together as a united nation because a united nation is what these terrorists fear the most”.
He welcomed the strong condemnation of the terrorists by Pakistan’s Ulema, adding that in this environment, madressas must not become a hot bed of extremism. He said that 90 per cent of madressas had no connection with terrorism, “based on intelligence reports received”. He said that the situation in Afghanistan has improved and if elections can beheld there, Afghan refugees should also go back to their country.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk