Terrorists would be hunted in every nook and corner: Kaira

LAHORE, Oct 11 (APP): Acting Governor Gilgit-Baltistan and Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira Sunday said that terrorists would be pursued in every nook and corner of the country. Talking to the mediamen after the Women in Media conference at a local hotel, he said, “The operation against the terrorists is not an ‘area specific operation’ but the civilian law enforcement agencies in different areas can be asked to take action against the terrorists”.

“Terrorism is a menace which is symbolic of a particular mind-set. It has many facets and the government of Pakistan is fighting a war for peace in the country. We want peace in all parts of the world”, he responded to a aquestion.

Regarding the blasts in Afghanistan, Kaira said that Pakistan does not want to destabilise Afghanistan. Terrorism is a phenomenon which can not be controlled through military might otherwise no terrorist acts should occur in Afghanistan in the presence of all the military might, he added.
When asked to comment on the opposition on the Kerry-Lugar Bill, he said difference of opinion is the beauty of democractic government and people are free to have their own points of view on the issue. He said that the bill has been presented in the Parliamnent which is the right forum for debate and reach consensus.

Answering a question about FATA, the federal minister said that Federally Adminitered Tribal Areas (FATA) had already enjoy complete autonomy while the situation was different in Gilgit-Baltistan. “Gilgit-Baltistan people have felt deprived for years as all their affairs were dealt by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs,” he said.
He said that we have given the people of Gilgit nad Baltistan their due rights through self-government. “We also stand firm on all the UN resolutions on Kashmir”, the Minister added.

Kaira dispelled the impression that GHQ incident is a security lapse and some ex-servicemen might have been involved in the attempted attacks on GHQ. “Donning military uniforms does not mean that the terroists belonged to or served in the army”, he asserted.

When asked to dilate upon any reprcussions of Shahbaz-Kiyani meeting, the Minister said that Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif himself is the right man to comment on the issue.

To another query, Qamar Zaman Kaira said that PML (N) is a democratic force and it does not have fears from the MQM if the latter has started political activities in Punjab.


Earlier, addressing the conference, Kaira invited India for resumption of composite dialogue and avoid blame game in the best interest of regional peace but clarified “We’ll not cooperate merely to please India”.

“India must understand that there are some interest groups which are bent upon sabotaging our efforts for regional peace and cooperation,” he said.

Lauding the Pak army, he said “Terrorists have a huge network and we have successfully disbanded the organisational set up of the the terrorist outfits in mere 10 months in Malakand and Swat. The first-tier leadership of the terrorists is under attack and we’d get rid of their leaders shortly adding we are destined to win the war against terrorism, he said.”

“We are fighting war against terrorism for the World Peace as we believe that if Pakistan fails in combating terrorism, it would create chaos in the world, he said.

Kaira said that peace in the neighbouring countries guarantee for peace in Pakistan as well as in the region.

Dilating upon the Waziristan operation, the federal minister clarified that the opeation is against the terrorist outfits which pose a clear threat to peace and not against the people of Waziristan.

Responding to a question by a delegate in the conference, the Minister said that a committee headed by senator Raza Rabbani has been constituted to review the 17th amendment. The committee has invited suggestions from intellectuals, barristers and opinion makers and would soon submit its recommendations. He reassured that the country’s constituttion would be restored to the real spirit of 1973 constitution.

Addressing the participant women of the conference Qamar Zaman Kaira lauded the role of women in media and said that “South Asian Women in Media (SAWM) is a landmark step which would go a long way in resolving the problems of women”. He said that media ethics commission was the need of the hour. “The government has provided facilities to train the women in all state media institutions”, he added.

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