News
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Operation in South Punjab only after credible intel: Gilani* PM urges coalition partners to avoid blame game, get united against terrorism
* Assures all-out support to Shahbaz SharifBy Hussain Kashif
LAHORE: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Saturday that the government will take action against militants in southern Punjab only if the Interior Ministry, intelligence agencies or the Punjab government provide solid and credible information about the existence of terrorist outfits in the area.
The prime minister said this while talking to the journalists after he visited the Ganga Ram Hospital to inquire after the health of people who had been injured in Thursday’s suicide attacks in Data Darbar.
Earlier, the PM also visited the shrine of Data Gunj Bakhsh and laid floral wreaths on the grave of the saint and offered fateha.
Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Punjab Finance Minister Tanveer Ashraf Kaira, Lahore Commissioner Khusro Pervez and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders from Punjab also accompanied the prime minister.
Speaking on the occasion, PM Gilani said that the government had conducted successful operations in Swat and the Malakand Division. “We will also take action against terrorists now wherever they (terrorists) challenge the writ of the government,” he said, adding that terrorists had lost their hold in Waziristan and were now targeting civilians in the cities to divert attention.
Gilani stressed that terrorism could only be dealt with if federal and provincial governments worked together, side by side. He said he had summoned a joint meeting of all the security and law enforcement agencies next week to formulate a comprehensive strategy to deal with terrorism.
Responding to a question about allegations levelled by PPP leaders against the Punjab government, the PM said terrorism was the biggest problem facing the country and no political party could combat terrorism and extremism on its own.
The PM said political parties should avoid indulging in a “blame game”.
He also pledged his all-out support to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led Punjab government in helping it deal with the threat posed by militants.
Later on Saturday, PM Gilani chaired a party meeting at his residence.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk