SANA

ISLAMABAD (SANA): Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan and its people are our only focus for them we have to fight against all those who are out to destabilize the country.

This was stated by the prime minister while addressing the All Parties Conference on the situation in Malakand and Balochistan here on Monday.

Referring to the situation in Swat, he said the government adopted a way of reconciliation and understanding to resolve the issues in the area and entered into an agreement with the so called Taliban with an only objective to bring peace in the area but they took it as weakness of the government and started challenging the writ of the state. He said the government before launching military operation against these militants and terrorists took into the confidence the coalition partners and the Parliament as no option was left to bring peace except this operation. He said the government with all positive approach accepted the agreement in Swat that was later on approved by the parliament and signed by the president in which it was agreed that the militants will lay down their arms after the implementation of Nizam-e-Adl there. But he said unfortunately they violated the agreement and started playing with the writ of the state, therefore, the government has to take military action.

The Prime Minister said military operation is not the ultimate solution of the problem, therefore, the government has decided to take into confidence all political forces and take them on board to resolve all issues being confronted by the nation with their consultation. He said it is our commitment to root out all those elements, who are trying to play with peace and tarnishing the image of Islam with the help of the people and all political forces.

While briefing the participants about the on going operation, the Prime Minister said it is moving forward successfully and a large number of militants have been killed while others are fleeing. He said with the support of the nation and the government, the military would continue this operation till its logical end that is to provide peace to the people. He lauded the role of Armed Forces in helping the nation in every difficult moment and paid rich tributes to them for defending the country’s external borders and overcoming internal threats.

Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani made it clear that Armed forces after completing the operation will stay in the area so that the militants could not resurface again. He said there should be no doubt on the professional abilities and capabilities of our armed forces to overcome these handful elements as the Pakistan Army is fully capable to deal with all sort of challenges.

Coming to internally displaced people, the Prime Minister said millions of innocent people have been compelled to leave their home due to nefarious activities of these militants but the government is committed to provide them with all out possible facilities and rehabilitate them after restoring peace in the area.

He said the government will make all out efforts for socio-economic development of the area through reconstruction so that these people could go to their homes in peace and live there in prosperity.

The Prime Minister said it is a fact that people of Swat and Malakand are peace loving and they have no links with the militants but some handful elements used them on the gunpoint to fulfill their nefarious designs but the government with the help of nation will foil their designs. He said the people of this area after facing great hardships were looking towards the government to come forward for their help, therefore, the government after taking all ground realities in to consideration took the decision to call Armed Forces for an operation to wipe out the terrorists. He said the special support has started its function which would ensure basic facilities for the displaced persons. He said the Finance Ministry has been tasked to arrange a donor’s conference in Islamabad hoping that the international community would come with generous donations to help the displaced persons and rehabilitate them. He said the government has decided to give remission in taxes in the affected areas.

Referring to the nuclear issue, the Prime Minister said some circles are spreading misinformation about the country’s nuclear assets but stated categorically that these are in very safe hands and nobody could reach them. He said no force whosoever may be can cast an evil eye on our nuclear assets as Pakistani nation and Armed forces are united to defend them. He said these assets guarantee our national security and we will never compromise on the issue of nuclear assets.