| Submit your comments on this article |
| India-Pakistan |
| PM vows to maintain government writ in Fata |
| 2008-08-16 |
| Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday vowed to maintain the writ of the government in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (Fata) and sought cooperation from the opposition and tribesmen to bring peace to the area. "The government intends to eliminate terrorism and extremism that have disturbed peace in our society, and the government could not spare any one who is involved in these heinous crimes," he said while responding to a point of order in the National Assembly. The point of order was raised by Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, who pointed out that situation became very grave due to heavy shelling and bombardment in Bajaur, Mohmand agencies and Michni areas, and a huge number of people had been displaced who needed shelter. The prime minister said the role of the state is to protect life and property of the people, and if the government fails to do so, it has no right to remain in the power. "We are here to protect the life and property of the people ... otherwise I have no right to be the prime minister. The government is actively engaged in bringing peace which is vital for economic progress as bomb attacks result in the flight of capital from the country," he added. He said the NWFP government entered into agreements with local people to maintain peace but regretted that girl schools, CDs and barber shops were torched and FC people were targeted. He said when the writ of the government was challenged and the FC and the Army were attacked, then it became imperative for the government to take action. The prime minister said that he had sought briefing from the Army chief on the prevailing situation. He said the elements bent upon destroying the peace were unpatriotic as there were only a few of such persons and most of them were foreigners, including Chechens and Uzbeks. The PM said development of tribal areas is also a priority of the government as the foreign terrorists, who are one per cent of the total population of these areas, exploit poor people for their nefarious designs while use of power is the last option for the government to tackle the situation. "The excessive use of power erodes the authority of the state," he added. Referring to the situation arising out from Bajaur and Mohmand agencies, the prime minister said he has sent his adviser on interior to ensure shelter for the displaced persons of these areas. He said the government would also welcome NGOs and philanthropists that want to cooperate with the government in this regard. He said members of the National Assembly from Fata were taken into confidence before launching action in these agencies against the foreign terrorists who are there to destroy peace and are playing the lives and property of the local people are really patriotic. He said that He informed the House that security forces have captured a number of terrorists from Rawalpindi. He assured the House that the government will take it into confidence and would welcome proposals of the members to mitigate the situation. Earlier speaking on a point of order, PPP-S leader Aftab Ahmed Sherpao expressed his concern over the migration of people, escaping air strikes against terrorists, from Bajaur Agency. The former interior minister said that at least 200,000 people have left their homes fearing collateral damage in the action against terrorists. He said the government has so far not provided them any help in the form of shelter, food or medicine and these people have been left on their own. He said the government needs to play a pro-active role in the situation, which was getting very serious. Sherpao called for an immediate end to the air strikes by gunship helicopters as it was also claiming innocent lives. Commenting on the Fata situation, Engineer Amir Muqam of the Q-League claimed that civilians also lost their lives in ground operation and air strikes. He reckoned the present loss 10 times more than the loss in operations by the previous government. He called for taking him and other members into confidence on the situation. |
| Posted by:Fred |