ISLAMABAD: Federal interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that attacks like Peshawar attack can be repeated. He asked the nation to remain vigilant. Nisar said that Pakistan army never targets young kids and women. He said that the army could have razed entire city of Miranshah to ground in one or two airstrikes but abstained from doing so only to save the civilians living there. He said that terrorists lived in Miranshah and other parts of the country along with the common population.
Holding a press conference on Sunday in Islamabad, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that civilized world has certain rules for even wars and these rules have been laid down by Islam. “Pakistan army never targets the women and kids even if the target is of high importance”, he said.
Nisar said that this is not a routine war on borders. “Our enemies are living inside our own country. In most countries that faced terrorism, terrorists were recognizable and different from the local population but our enemy can fake himself as a local resident without any trouble”, he said. “Therefore,” he added, “local population must support the security agencies to curb this menace”.
Talking about the Action Plan Committee, Nisar said, “Our committee has been given one week only to finish our job. We are working day in and day out for finalizing the recommendations. We are going to share a phone number which can be dialed from landline and mobile networks so that common people of Pakistan can easily inform the security agencies about any suspected terrorists”.
Interior Minister said that police officers and SHOs have been directed to improve surveillance in their areas. “This has started in Islamabad and provinces have been directed to start working too. DPOs have been directed to keep strict check in sensitive areas. SHOs will be responsible for any terrorist operating from their area”.
“Hotel owners will be held responsible for any terrorists found in their hotels. I request all the hotel owners to strictly scrutinize anyone who wants to stay at their hotel”.
“Common people of the country must share information with the security agencies. Verbal condemnation will not be enough now. We have to play our part throughout the 24 hours”.
“Free media is the jewel in the crown of democracy. I have said it on a number of occasions that media has played a great role in delivering the message to the common people of Pakistan. However, it cannot be allowed to air the speeches of the people endorsing Peshawar attack and other terrorist activities”.
Regulation for media is also being prepared and it is not linked with the terrorists. We cannot allow advertising of the people who cut throats of kids. New regulation is being made for tenants as well. There were certain houses that were rented out at extremely high rates.
“More than half million unregistered sims have been cancelled so far on the intervention of the Interior Ministry but such sims are still being used for terrorism. 5 sims of the same company were issued from the same shop on one ID card. All these sims were used by the terrorists of Peshawar attack. We appreciate the investment in telecommunication sector but the companies must also keep strict check on such activities. If such a case surfaces in future, the FIR will be registered against the company”, warned senior Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) leader.
Chaudhry Nisar said that this was not going to be a cricket or hockey match. He said that this war will take a long time to end.
Sharing his concerns about the capacity of the police to fight terrorism, Chaudhry Nisar said that police has not been trained for fighting terrorism. “It has always been trained for maintaining law and order. But we are trying to train it on these lines as well now”, he said.
Nisar said, “I assure you that civil-military agencies will together be able to win this war but we have to keep our guard up throughout this war and fight these terrorists together as a united nation because a united nation is what these terrorists fear the most”.
