PESHAWAR: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday paid tribute to the sacrifices of officers and Jawans of Frontier Corps, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

Addressing as chief guest at the passing out parade of jawans of Frontier Corps at the Scouts Training Academy, Warsak, in Peshawar, the minister said that he was proud to address this parade of the FC troops whose predecessors had added a new chapter of gallantry in the history of the force. He said that those FC troops who laid down their lives for protection of motherland were in fact the real heroes and the whole nation held their sacrifices in high esteem.

“It is an historic occasion for me to address parade of FC whose gallantry has been globally recognised,” he said and added that great responsibilities lied on the shoulders of the passed out recruits to utilise all their energies, skills and capabilities while performing their duties as directed to them.

Says ‘Zarb-i-Azb’ has broken the back of militants

Mr Khan said that Islam was the religion of peace and strictly prohibited the killing of innocent people. He said that elements who had been killing innocent people were the enemy of Islam and humanity and such elements would be dealt with iron hands.

The interior minister said that operation ‘Zarb-i-Azb’ had broken the back of militants and resultantly the incidents of terrorism had significantly reduced in the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata.

He said that the government had started dialogue process with militants after taking all the stakeholders, including political leadership, into confidence for restoration of peace and harmony in the restive areas, but unfortunately they (militants) did not reciprocate to the government’s positive gesture and continued attacking public installations, forces and innocent people.

He said that the government was left with no option, but to start a decisive action against the militants and terrorists in their stronghold for establishment of peace and restoration of its writ.

The interior minister said that it was the responsibility of all segments of society to play a constructive role for establishment of durable peace. On this occasion, 1,437 jawans of FC passed out after completing their six-month training in the academy.

The minister also distributed certificates and medals among the position-holders on this occasion. Inspector General Frontier Corps, KP, Maj Gen Tayyab Azam, Commandant FC Scouts Training Academy Col Mohammad Kamran and relatives of the recruits were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the interior minister and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif called on Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmed Khan on Friday. They discussed the law and order situation in Fata and the positive impact of operation ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ and overall situation of the country.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2015

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