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| July 26, 2005 | Tuesday | Jumadi-us-Sani 18, 1426 |
President backs crackdown
LAHORE, July 25: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Monday lauded law-enforcement agencies for their effective crackdown on extremists assuring them of full government support. Congratulating the law enforcement agencies at an interaction with senior editors, he said this campaign against extremism was not like those carried out in the past.
“We do not arrest people randomly and then release them after two weeks —- we are not capturing people for nothing —- we are clear about who to get hold of.” He particularly referred to the provincial heads of the banned outfits, who are operating under different names.
President Musharraf asked the senior editors to help the government in its campaign to curb writing, printing and distribution of hate material. Anyone found misusing mosque loudspeakers for stoking hatred must be held accountable, he added.
He said the campaign was being carried out on specific target-related instructions and those captured would be tried in anti-terrorist courts. President Musharraf also congratulated the nation for conforming to his appeal vis-a-vis standing up against extremism.
The nation did not heed the call of strike calls by some parties against the government’s crackdown and refused to rally behind them, he observed. President Musharraf said mosques and seminaries imparting true Islamic education should also oppose those who try to spread hatred.
He also appealed to the media to keep national interests ahead of all other considerations and put Pakistan first.—APP
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