Pakistan Views

Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Hamid Nawaz (retd) said on Sunday that, in a telephonic conversation with US ambassador in Pakistan Anne Patterson, it had been explained that his statement that he gave in an interview with Aaj TV on Saturday was not a policy statement of the government of Pakistan.
The minister said he had also told the ambassador that during the interview, he had spoken of the general public impression. According to the minister, he surmises that such an opinion is taking shape in the public minds, the Aaj TV reported on Sunday. The minister in his interview had said that the perception that US, India and Afghanistan were involved in suicide attacks in Pakistan was fast gaining momentum in the country. Meanwhile, the US Embassy has described as “untrue” the recent claims made by Interior Minister concerning the United States. In a US Embassy press release, it was stated that American Ambassador Anne W. Patterson Sunday telephoned Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz to express her grave concern over his remarks made in a television interview.

Caretaker Interior Minster Lieutenant General (Retd) Hamid Nawaz has said that the majority of Pakistani people think that United States and India are involved in terrorist activities in Pakistan, a private TV channel reported on Saturday night.
In an interview with an international news channel, the minister said that neighbouring country Afghanistan is peaceful and there is harmony there. However, the situation in Pakistan is deteriorating day by day.
There is a strong perception among the Pakistani people that United States, India and Afghanistan through their intelligence agencies are sponsoring terrorism in the country and destabilising it, TV channel added.

Caretaker Minister for Interior Lt. Gen. (rtd) Hamid Nawaz Khan Tuesday said the observers will be allowed freedom of movement during the elections for polls monitoring. Addressing the media in a ceremony held in connection with plantation drive on Tuesday morning, he said the capture of Taliban leader Mansoor Dadullah is a great achievement, as it will help control the terrorism to a large extent. It should be mentioned that FC captured Mansoor Dadullah along with his four accomplices in a full-fledged crackdown near Chaman area. Responding a question regarding the ban on political gatherings in Rawalpinidi’s historic Liaquat Bagh, he said the place is situated in a well-populated urban area, where security risks run very high. ‘There are some other suitable and alternative places in the city for the purposes and if the district administration does not permit the holding of any gathering at Liaquat Bagh, then the political venues can be set at alternative places,’ Hamid Nawaz maintained. Reacting to the lawyers boycott and protest against the elections, the caretaker interior minister warned no one would be allowed to interfere in the electoral process.

Caretaker Interior Minister Lt. General Hamid Nawaz Khan (Retd) on Monday said that terrorism is a multi-facetd organized crime which has its roots in some foreign countries.

Talking to PTV, he said on screen there are individuals or groups who conduct terrorist act of various kind but behind the screen there are some other factors also which provide input to this henious crime.

Explaining the point, he said there are certain people who provide explosives, jackets, financial assistance etc. to the terrorists.

There is also a factor behind this scenario where in indoctrination, training and motivation is taking place, he said.

He said that terrorists’ network is scattered over vast areas including Fatas and Swat adding running such a big network is not possible if there is no foreign assistance.

There is the evidence about the involvement of foreign hands in some of the violent incidents that took place in country in the recent past.

The recent incidents in Karachi and some other areas can be quoted as example in this regard wherein the foreign element by taking the advantage of domestic conditions tried to create law and order situation, the Minister said.

He said the military operations alone will not help bring durable peace in Tribal Areas and Swat.

The use of force may be a better option as short term measure but as long term measure the local population will have to be taken into confidence to address the root causes to eliminate the causes related to employment opportunities, he said.

He said the terrorists are a handful people who have taken the entire population as hostage. The locals are found complaining that they suffer due to the misdeeds of some individuals.

So it is necessary that the locals should be taken on board while evolving a strategy to eliminate the root causes of terrorism, he said.

He said the local elites including the religious leaders have a role to play to discourage the tendencies of terrorism.

The suicide bombing is conducted by highly motivated people who are told of salvation for conducting this act, he said adding the religious leaders should come forward to explain real position in line with teachings

Caretaker Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz has said that although the lives of politicians were in danger efforts were being made to provide them maximum security.
Caretaker Interior Minister said the NWFP Governor Ali Jaan Aurakzai was asked to leave his position because his policy of entering into peace agreements with tribal elders failed.
Speaking to Media in Islamabad, the Interior Minister added that due to the ex-governors flawed policy the tribal militants had entered settled areas of NWFP.
He also said that the operation in South Waziristan would continue until the area was purged of miscreants and that he believed militants in Darra Adamkhel would be crushed.

Caretaker Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz has said that Scotland Yard team got hold of 18 major clues on Benazir Bhutto’s assassination case and will report to Government of Pakistan before elections.

giving an exclusive interview to Geo TV, he said proof has been found against Baitulla Masood in connection with BB’s case and that operation is being carried out against him.

The Minister said that in the valley of Sawat and other sensitive areas, Talibanization has been controlled within the region and now only few groups are active.

He stated that the nuclear assets are not in peril and nothing can harm them. In Sawat and FATA, it has been decided that elections will be held on February 18.

He also told Geo that for free and fair elections, “we have already made fool proof security arrangements. Army, Police and Rangers will also be called in for help during elections.”

The interior minister has announced progress in investigations with arrest of suspects involved in bombings in Rawalpindi, Karachi and other attacks across the country.

Caretaker Interior Minister, Hamid Nawaz Khan talking to media while inauguration of a police station here, said eight suicide bombers have been detained along with key suspect of recent suicide attacks.

He said total 8 suspects have been picked up by the police from Sargodha and Mianwali with explosives. Five would be suicide attackers have been detained from Sargodha with 37-kilogram explosives, while three others arrested from Mianwali with 30 KG explosive material, the minister further said.

Commenting on the Scotland Yard probe, the interior minister said that the team has been given 30 days to complete their investigation into Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. Four British detectives would remain in Pakistan till the probe is completed, while others would arrive and return back home according to the need of the investigations.