Govt writ to be maintained at all costs: Rehman Malik

LONDON:The Advisor to the Prime Minister on Interior Rahman Malik has said that the government’s writ in the restive tribal areas would be maintained at all cost while the armed forces were fully capable of defending the territorial integrity of the country. He was speaking at a hastily arranged press conference at the Pakistan High Commission on Thursday afternoon after cutting short his tour of UK. The Advisor is returning to Pakistan later in the evening a day ahead of his scheduled programme.
Mr.Malik spoke of the conspiracies being hatched by the enemies of Pakistan to destabilise the country but said this would never be allowed to happen. He informed the media of the recent action taken by the Government to re-assert its writ in the areas around Peshawar and Bara and said the situation has been brought under control.
He said law enforcing agencies arrested 100 persons including 32 deputy commanders of the hard core militant organisations while their radio station was also destroyed.
Strongly rebutting reports of Government inaction in the tribal areas, the Advisor said the country would not accept any dictation from aboad and the action was being taken in the larger national interests.
Malik referred to his meetings with the British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Foreign Secretary David Miliband and said he informed them about the efforts being made by Pakistan in counter terrorism.
The British officials were informed that due to the measures taken by Pakistan, suicide bombings decreased substantially in Punjab and NWFP while the government has also taken a number of measures for the development of FATA.
The focus of his discussion with the British leaders was exchange of youth visits, forced marriage issue, understanding British culture and matters relating to immigration and security.
Mr.Malik said during his recent visit to Afghanistan and discussion with President Hamid Karzai, he emphasized the need for better policing of the border. Although President Karzai agreed to his proposals and despite three reminders, no progress has been made in this regard.
He mentioned the steps taken by Pakistan at the border check posts at Chaman and Torkham including the introduction of biometric cards but said the facilitation desk on the Afghan side had been destroyed by the Afghan soldiers.
The Advisor said Pakistan was still playing host to some 3 million refugees and has urged Afghanistan to initiate development projects so that these refugees could return home and get suitable jobs.
He said Balochistan dissidents with the help of some countries were active to destabilise the province and the country as a whole.
Referring to situation on Pak-Afghan border, he said NATO, Afghanistan and Pakistan were responsible for its control. He said Pakistan was discharging its duties faithfully while Afghanistan needs to do the same on its side.
Prior to addressing the press conference, the Advisor called on PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif at his Park Lane residence and discussed general political situation in Pakistan. Malik said he also informed Mr. Sharif about his visit to UK and his interaction with the British officials.
Pakistan High Commissioner to UK Wajid Shamsul Hasan and other senior High Commission officials were also present on the occasion.
On the complaints of the media persons, the Advisor announced to transfer with immediate effect five officials who had been working in visa section for over 10 years.
He appreciated the recent measures taken by the High Commissioner to facilitate persons coming to the High Commission for the attestation of their documents and other papers.