PESHAWAR, July 31: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said that the government has adopted concrete measures to eliminate extremism from the society and improve country’s image abroad.

Speaking to a delegation from the Jalozai union council of Nowshera district here on Sunday, Mr Sherpao said that the recent spate of terrorism had defamed Pakistan and the government would take every step to eradicate extremism from the country.

The minister regretted that the growing trend of extremism had caused irreparable loss to the country and its people.

Hate literature would not be allowed to pollute the minds of innocent people, he said, adding that its perpetrators would be dealt sternly.

The minister said the government had adopted pragmatic steps banning hate material and extremist organizations. The banned outfits would not be allowed to operate with new nomenclatures, he added.

About the registration of Madressahs, the interior minister said that the government would bring reforms in the religious institutions for the bright future of the poor students there. He said the government was not against the Madressahs but it was trying to make them more advantageous for students.

Mr Sherpao said that the foreign students studying in Madressahs had to be expelled and sent back to their countries.

He said that the step was being taken in greater interests of local students.

Criticizing the Hasba Bill, he said that it was contrary to the interests of people as it would snatch their liberty. He termed the controversial bill as ultra constitutional piece of legislation which would malign the name of Islam.

He said that the bill was aimed at grabbing powers and using them against the opponents.