Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif here Thursday directed the provinces to take strict and effective measures for eliminating the menace of terrorism, saying that a special law was being enacted to deal with terrorism-related cases.
Talking to members of the affected families of Qisa Khwani bomb explosion and later in his talk with reporters here at the Governor House, the Prime Minister said the proposed special law was already ready which would effectively tackle terrorism related cases in the court of law.The culprits involved in terrorism would not escape the clutches of law, he added. He said the proposed law would put an end to the lacunas in the existing laws that go in favour of the accused as presently in such cases the accused were released on bail and due to lack of proper evidence due to a weak case prepared by the prosecution.He said,in a country, where security measures are weak extraordinary laws and decisions have to be taken to put things on the right track.He said the Government would not show any weakness in elimination of terrorism and would go whole hog to curb this menace once and for all.
Nawaz Sharif said the targeted operation initiated in Karachi was yielding positive results and added the operation in the port city would show more good results.The Prime Minister said that his Government has decided to hold talks with the militants in order to avoid more bloodshed in the country. He said the Government was very much serious in taking forward the peace process and is sincere to exercise the option of negotiation for which the Govt has been mandated by the All Parties Conference. He deplored that the previous regimes did not take the matter of terrorism seriously and as such the present was confronted with this gigantic problem soon after coming into power.Had this problem was taken seriously by the previous Govts. the situation would not have gone intractable today,he added. “we have laid the hands to settle this problem and invited suggestions from all the stakeholders to arrest this issue once for all”, added the premier. About the high level meeting, he chaired on law and order prior to his interaction with the media men at Governor House, the Prime Minister said raising of Anti Terrorism Force was the need of the hour and asked the provinces to take steps in this direction.
The Prime Minister said the meeting on law and order in KPK Thursday has necessitated the raising of Counter Terrorism Force to effectively counter this menace along with a strong intelligence network. He said problem of terrorism was inflicting the country for the last 20 years and had this problem was seriously taken in that time this “Jinn”(gene) would not have taken so dangerous turn today. Unluckily, he said, “we do not have a trained force to combat the menace of terrorism” and time has come to raise a Special Counter Terrorism Force. Nawaz Sharif said all the four provinces have to take emergent measures to overcome the issue of terrorism to end this blood game. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan’s progress cannot be achieved without a stable economy and said it requires resolving the energy crisis and terrorism to get tangible results. The premier said without peace, we can not materialized attaining dream of development,creating employment opportunities,construction of roads, hospitals,schools and economic progress. To attract internal and external investment, he said, tackling menace of terrorism and addressing energy crisis was of paramount importance. After assuming the office, he said his government has cleared the circular debt of Rs.500 billion in a difficult circumstance and gave an inclusive energy policy 2013 to the nation.
It was not an easy task to pump in such a big amount in the energy sector in the presence of bad financial position, he added. He also contended that the previous Govt did not concentrate to overcome the problem of loadshedding and had this problem was seriously pursued, the situation would have been different today. He was optimistic while saying that there would be no loadshedding in the country after five years.In reply to a question,he said drone strikes must stop as it were against the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan.No independent country could tolerate such violations of its territory. Asked about steps his Govt has taken for economic prosperity, Nawaz Sharif said his economic team was well aware of the problems facing the country today and expressed the confidence that the nation will overcome all its economic issues.He said that his Govt has successfully finalized its arrangements with IMF and also referred to a formation of a vibrant energy policy 2013.
He said however his Govt was exploring all means to generate inexpensive electricity from solar,hydel,coal and wind sources.But we need time to make stand the country’s economic on its feet; he also made a mention to the six major schemes for welfare of youth which we have said unprecedented in the country’s history. At the outset of his address,the PM expressed profound grief and sorrow over the death of innocent people in the Qisa Khwani and Bus bomb blasts and prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls. He also offered Dua for eternal peace of the departed souls of the victims and courage to bereaved families. He also announced Rs.50 million for heirs of the bomb blasts of Qisa Khwan and Bus explosions. Governor Engr Shaukatullah, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Adivisor to PML on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sirtaj Aziz, Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervez Rashid, PML N Secretary General Iqbal Zafar Jahagra, Central PML leader Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan, PML KP President Pir Sabir Shah, Senior Vice Presidents PMLN Amir Muqam and Khwaja Muhammad Khan Hoti were also present on the occasion. App
