Islamabad:
The government’s anti-terrorism approach has caused a debate in its own ranks, since the PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui said Saturday that the Government retains the option of initiating an operation if necessary only a few days after the Ministry of Interior ruled out a new military offensive against terrorism.
Emphasizing that terrorists cannot be allowed to wander freely and take innocent lives without facing consequences, the PML-N senator said that an important military operation was currently not underway, but that the State has the authority to act where necessary to eliminate terrorism.
The comments of the parliamentary leader of PML-N in the Senate occur after the Minister of State of the Interior Talal Chaudhry categorically declared that a new military operation was not being considered in the midst of a broader debate on the strategies against the terrorists after a high-level parliamentary security-compliance meeting on the National Security meeting.
At a press conference on Thursday, Chaudhry had said that a new military operation was not discussed in the parliamentary security Moot, which was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the head of the Army. He had affirmed that AZM-E-INTEHKAM and the National Action Plan (NAP) would apply to combat terrorism.
Chaudhry’s comments came to counteract KP’s prime minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, who, according to reports, had opposed any new offensive in the province.
On Saturday, Senator Siddiqui also accused KP CM Gandapur to try to convert the province into a safe shelter for terrorists.
“Terrorists cannot be allowed to wander freely, wreak havoc with innocent citizens and run out of Scottish,” said Siddiqui, who is the president of the Permanent Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate, in an interview on a private television channel.
“Will our armed forces wait for Gandapur’s permission if, God does not want it, any misfortune is launched on our western border,” said Siddiqui.
The main leader of PML-N said that former Prime Minister Imran Khan, in collaboration with military leadership, had brought back terrorists from Afghanistan and established them in Pakistan, who have now become a big problem.
When asked about the concept of a “hard state”, as mentioned by the Army Chief at the Security Committee meeting, Senator Siddiqui explained that those who attack the State and kill the innocent Pakistani will be treated with an iron hand, and no clemency will be shown.
Answering another question, Senator Siddiqui clarified that a “hard state” simply means not showing mercy towards terrorists, their clients and those who glorify them on social networks.
He pointed out that the “Army staff manager has represented the feelings of the entire nation when taking this position.”
Siddiqui regretted that even following events such as May 9, the State unfortunately exhibited a soft approach. “In any other country,” he said, “those involved in such despicable acts would have faced serious consequences.”
Senator Siddiqui said that the kidnapping of Jaffar Express was an act of horrible terrorism, which was sentenced throughout the world, including the United Nations Security Council.
No one labeled it as nationalism or struggle for fundamental rights, he said, adding that everyone described him as terrorism. However, he regretted that the leadership of a political party and its affiliated media launched a propaganda campaign, encouraging terrorists while trying to encourage hate against the armed forces that carry out the operation.
On the issue of bad governance, Senator Siddiqui said the comments were made with respect to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan, where more than 90% of terrorist incidents have occurred. During the National Security meeting, it was reported that the Army Chief had commented on bad governance by saying how long the governance gap is filled with the blood of the martyrs.
