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Friday, March 01, 2013
Militancy, sectarianism will be dealt with iron hand: Zardari* President says govt will chase killers of innocent people in Balochistan
QUETTA: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday reiterated commitment of the government to curb militancy and sectarianism with an iron hand. He pledged to chase the killers of innocent people in Balochistan and elsewhere till they are brought to justice.
“The fight against militant and sectarian mindset may be hard and long but will not rest till we have defeated this enemy of the state and the country,” the president said.
Presidential spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said the president held a series of meetings here on return from his visit to Tehran with the parliamentarians, religious leaders and elders of the Hazara community during which he also called upon them to augment the efforts of the government.
In a meeting with parliamentarians from Balochistan, the president reiterated the commitment of the government to make Pakistan and particularly Balochistan prosperous. The president said that the development of the Gwadar port was a mega project that promised great benefits to the people of the area. Spokesperson said that political situation in the province was also discussed during the meeting.
In another meeting with ulema representing various schools of thought, the president called upon them to further strengthen the efforts of the law enforcing agencies in bringing to justice to those who misuse the name of the religion. The president called upon the need to collectively fight against the forces that breed hatred and promote militancy and sectarian killings.
Later, the president had a meeting with a delegation of the Hazara community. The president expressed his profound sympathies over the great loss that the community had to suffer recently at the hands of extremists and fanatics. The president reassured the delegation that the government would undertake every possible effort to bring the culprits involved in the attack on Hazara community to justice. He said that the federal government was providing every support to the provincial government in investigating the heinous incidents.
The president advised the governor to personally monitor and ensure that the injured were being provided the best medical assistance and that the bereaved families were provided relief by the government.
A meeting on law and order situation in the province apprised the president about the measures taken to beef up the security. The meeting was informed that the security arrangement in and around Quetta city have been beefed up and FC has been given powers of police under the anti-terrorism act.
It was informed that a special task force has been constituted to deal with serious crimes including target killings, sectarian killings and kidnapping for ransom. Other measures such as ban on rahdaris, display of arms, prohibition of tinted glasses and campaign against unregistered vehicles were also identified as being taken. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk