ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has offered more sacrifices than any other country in war against terrorism and it is committed to defeating terrorism in the region with the help of its neighbours and the international community.

Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal said this while talking to journalists on Wednesday during a visit to the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) centre in Blue Area.

In reply to a question about the new US policy announced by President Donald Trump, Mr Iqbal said that terrorism could not be eliminated by pointing fingers at each other.

“In the last four years, we have achieved unprecedented success in the fight against terrorism. Our commitment against terrorism is not to make anybody happy or annoyed,” he said, adding, “we believe in peace and in coordination with international community and our neighbours we have and we will continue our efforts to fighting terrorism.”

Action against Musharraf should be taken for abrogating Constitution

He rejected allegations that Pakistan gave refuge to terrorists.

“Terrorism has afflicted every country. In accordance with the Quaid-i-Azam’s vision, the country was established not on the basis of race, creed and religion. We want prosperous future for Pakistan and for that we do not want only internal peace, but also peace in the region and the world,” he said, adding that countries in the region should work together for peace in Afghanistan.

In reply to a question about Pervez Musharraf, he said: “If a prime minister can be punished, then the person who abrogated the Constitution should also be punished.”

Action should be taken against those who violated the Constitution and law of the country, he added.

The minister said: “We do not want to do injustice with anyone as all were equal irrespective of whether a president, prime minister or the one who abrogated the Constitution of Pakistan.”

He said that Nadra would play an important role in the next elections and effective steps were being taken to stop issuance of fake identity cards.

In reply to a question about a case of alleged harassment in Nadra, he said the policy was to give protection to all employees.

The minister said that Nadra had become a legendary and world class institution and it was set up by the PML-N government in 1998 under Vision 2010.

He said more facilities would be provided so that people could easily acquire passport and identity cards and the customer feedback system would also be improved.

Mr Iqbal said that he had issued instructions for setting up of more Nadra offices, adding that about 70 more Nadra mobile vans would be made available to facilitate people.

The minister said that Nadra would soon start an online visa system.

Earlier, officials gave a comprehensive briefing to the minister on the working of Nadra.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2017