KARACHI: Sherpao defends govt action against ‘Talibanisation’
By A Reporter
KARACHI, June 5: The Federal Interior Minister, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, on Tuesday said that the government was successfully playing its role as a front-line state against terrorism and efforts were being made to discourage ‘Talibanisation,’ both in the settled and tribal areas.
Talking to reporters at a local hotel, he said the government was taking effective steps against terrorists in the Waziristan agency. The phenomenon of Talibanisation, he said, was not in the interest of the country or the region.
Answering a question, Sherpao said that Prime Minister Shuakat Aziz had gone to Kabul where talks were scheduled with the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, on various issues including terrorism and related matters.
About Islamabad’s relations with Kabul, he said both countries enjoyed good relations and the joint Grand Jirga would meet in August, in which various issues concerning both Pakistan and Afghanistan would be discussed.
About the killing of innocent people in the May 12 mayhem, the interior minister said that the Sindh High Court had taken suo moto notice of the incidents and investigations were in progress. He added that whenever the inquiry report was received, it would be made public.
In reply to a question, Sherpao said that the purpose of his visit to Karachi was to call on the grieving families of the May 12 victims, condole with them and offer fateha for the departed souls.
He pointed out that both the president and the prime minister had already visited the metropolis and reviewed the law and order situation in the aftermath of May 12. The interior minister said that he had made a presentation before the National Security Council (NSC) with reference to law and order in the country.
On the local political front, he critiqued the leaders of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA), saying that they had failed to serve the masses and were only playing with the sentiments of the people.
When asked about the possibility of a merger between his party and Benazir Bhutto’s party, he rejected the possibility and said that only a seat-to-seat adjustment was possible with any party in the next elections.
Later, the minister visited the houses of the May 12 victims in Khamosh Colony, Sherpao Colony and Manghopir and condoled with the bereaved families.
He was accompanied by PPP-Sherpao senators Shuja-ul-Mulk and Haji Ghufran, Nazim Malakand agency, Haji Fida Mohammad, the party’s NWFP President, Sikandar Sherpao, Swat Tehsil Nazim, Fazl-ur-Rehman Advocate and President, Mazdoor Kisssan Party, Afzal Khamosh.
