ISLAMABAD, Oct 22 (APP):Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, on Thursday said that that the government’s sole focus was to restore peace and eliminate terrorism, adding that there were no political motives or targets involved.
Talking to the media outside Parliament House, he said the prime minister had visited and chaired a meeting of the Apex Committee in Peshawar.
He said all resources required by the province from the federal government would be provided.
He said all political forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should stand united behind the security forces with a common stance.
Talal said the security forces were fully capable of defeating terrorists within days. However, he said the problem arose when political leaders showed reluctance, failed to provide leadership to the forces, adopted a soft approach towards terrorists and placed conditions on counterterrorism operations.
He said, regrettably, this attitude had led to the situation involving Articles 232 and 234 of the Constitution. He reiterated that the government would not back down from its focus, adding that peace in Pakistan, economic growth and stability could not be achieved without peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He urged political forces in the province, particularly the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to call terrorists and their facilitators by their names and treat the facilitators in the same manner as terrorists.
He also called for an end to a lenient approach towards terrorists and urged political leaders to openly identify terrorist groups, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and (BLA), and stand firmly with the security forces.
He said political issues could be resolved through dialogue.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
