Govt wins political support

ISLAMABAD-On the request of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, the political forces in the country offered unflinching support in resolving the problem of militancy and terrorism through a policy of reconciliation and consultation.
All Parties Conference (APC) in which over 40 political parties participated also adopted a unanimous resolution to unite the nation in the face of insurgency in Swat and Malakand Division and to play their role in rooting out terrorism, extremism and sectarianism from society.
Addressing the political leaders gathered here for the APC to discuss the situation in Swat and Malakand, the Prime Minister said the internal challenges required the political forces to develop consensus on vital issues keeping in view national sovereignty and integrity. The APC, attended by leaders of all major political and religious parties discussed in detail the situation arising out of the activities of the militants and extremists in parts of NWFP that forced the government to undertake military action.
However, Balochistan National Party and National Party, both the nationalist parties of Balochistan, did not attend the meeting on the pretext that the issue of Balochistan was not included in the agenda.
Prominent among those who attended the meeting included PML-Ns Nawaz Sharif, JUIs Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Jamaat-e-Islamis Liaquat Baloch, MQMs Dr Farooq Sattar, ANPs Asfandyar Wali Khan, Tehreek-e-Insafs Imran Khan, Awami Muslim Leagues Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, PML-Qs Ch Shujaat Hussain and PPP-Sherpaos Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao.
Prime Minister Gilani said the Army action against militants in Swat was continuing successfully. He however pointed out that it was not a permanent solution.
Unless political forces step into resolving the situation, there is no guarantee to a sustainable solution [against terrorism and extremism].
Gilani said the government always adopted the policy of dialogue, deterrence and development in tribal areas, for which it faced criticism by political forces and was blamed for following the foreign directives.
He however said, I want to make it clear that the focus of our policies is only Pakistan, and nothing else. We are engaged in ensuring peace and prosperity of the country with due patience.
Gilani said the army action became a necessity when militants treated the innocent people with violence and brutality, and made their lives unbearable.
He mentioned numerous incidents including flogging of a girl, desecration of shrines, incidents of forcing people to follow self-interpretation of Islam and training of youngsters to become terrorists as the main reasons that compelled the government to call in the army in the area.
The Prime Minister said the history and culture of Swat bore proof that its locals were peace-loving and law-abiding people. However, he said that when people were made hostage by the militants, they looked towards the government to free them. It was therefore decided to call in the army in the best national interest and for the safety of our own people, he said. Prime Minister Gilani said the Army would remain in Swat valley until peace was fully restored and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) returned to their homes.
He said rehabilitation of IDPs was equally important along with the military action and added the government would leave no stone un-turned for their rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged property. The displaced people of Swat are the guests of the entire country. They should not consider themselves as dejected, because the government honours their sacrifice, he said.
Gilani said the government would follow a clear and practical strategy for development of Swat including compensation for damaged property. He said new projects would be initiated to bring the displaced people into the national mainstream.
He mentioned the high-level Special Support Group for the rehabilitation of IDPs and added that soon an International Donors Conference would be held in Islamabad for raising funds for the displaced people of Swat. He said the federal government had already provided Rs 1 billion to the provincial government to ensure provision of basic facilities to the IDPs, while the proposal of giving them concession on taxes was also under consideration.
Gilani said those who were trying to blackmail the state institutions in the guise of imposing Sharia, had been revealed before the nation.
We are determined to defeat every conspiracy being hatched in the name of Islam, he said. Prime Minister also dispelled the impression that Pakistans nuclear assets would fall prey to militants. He said Pakistans nuclear assets were safe and any one daring to compromise these would be dealt with strictly.
Later, briefing media on the deliberations of the APC, Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the All Parties Conference (APC) had passed a resolution in favour of Swat military operation and reaffirmed its commitment to preserve, protect and defend the constitution and sovereignty of the state.
The entire national leadership attended the APC and expressed their views on the ongoing military operation in Swat and Malakand, he said. He said APC was convened to evolve a national consensus on the situation prevailing in Swat and Malakand Division where national leadership was taken into confidence and endorsed a joint resolution.
Minister for Information, Qamar Zaman Kaira said the resolution emphasized the need to establish and maintain the writ of the state, ensure the supremacy of the rule of law and it condemned, all violent challenges to the constitution and the state. The resolution expressed grief for the martyrdom of security personnel and innocent civilians and maintained that the safety and security of civilians is paramount and it should be ensured that minimum harm is caused to the non-combatant civilian population.
The resolution also re-emphasized the need to ensure the safety, well being and rehabilitation in their respective areas of the Internally Displaced Persons and called upon the people to respond as one nation to mitigate the suffering of our brothers and sisters-the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
He recalled that the government used the military option as last resort to maintain law and order and ensure writ of the government in Swat and FATA areas.
He said the government initiated dialogue process and enforced Nazam-i-Adl Regulation in Swat and FATA for restoration of peace but militants violated the agreement and challenged the writ of the government.
Qamar Zaman Kaira said the situation in Malakand and Swat was like an insurgency and the entire nation was supporting the ongoing operation against the militants and wanted to flush out the menace of terrorism from the areas to ensure peace.
The military operation is not a good option. We have complete support of the nation. The government wants early culmination of the operation and is trying to cause minimum damage, he said and added, however, the operation can continue until all objectives are achieved positively.
I am very much sure that our brave armed forces while utilizing all of their resources and professional skills would succeed in eliminating the menace of terrorism from Swat, he said. Answering a question, Kaira said all the political forces were taken into confidence on military operation in Swat and added that as a result of the operation, around 0.8 million people were displaced who were living in the camps as well as with their relatives.
He said the government was committed to the betterment and rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and all efforts and possible steps were being taken for their relief and rehabilitation with the active support of general public and the donors. We are utilizing all our resources to facilitate the IDPs. The government, in collaboration with various departments, was doing its best for IDPs and at the same time registration process was also going to facilitate them. He said the world was also helping Pakistan for relief and rehabilitation of IDPs and donor agencies were working shoulder to shoulder with the government.
Relying to another question, the minister admitted a camp could not be an alternative to a home, but we can minimize the sufferings of IDPs with collaborative efforts.
The Minister said around 20,000 IDPs had started returning to their homes and the government would provide assistance to them not only in camps but also at their homes. The government, he said, would also provide them cash grant and start a comprehensive return package for IDPs. This is our national responsibility to help out our brothers and sisters in hour of need, Kaira added. Answering another question, he said the Army launched the operation on the advice of the government and the war against terror was in favour of Pakistan, region and the entire world.
To a question, he made it clear that the journalists were not stopped from going to areas where operation continued and added due to security risk in Swat, the reporters were not given an open access to these areas. He also highlighted the visit of President Asif Ali Zardari to Libya, US, UK and France and termed it successful, which would help further promote and strengthen relations with these countries.
The visit of US by President Asif Ali Zardari, he said had helped understand Pakistans position on war on terror in its true perspective. Replying to a question, he said Pakistans nuclear assets were in safe custody.
Online adds: Supporting the ongoing Swat operation, PML-N Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif on Monday stressed its continuation until the eliminating all the militants and said that their defeat was necessary for the political stability in the country.
While addressing the All Parties Conference (APC), Nawaz made it clear that military operation in Swat must continue till the extremists were defeated and accepted the writ of the state. He was of the view that the government should have given more time to the Swat peace accord, but as the military action had been launched now it must achieve the desired objectives.
He said we must also have an in-depth look into Balochistan unrest because everyone now is focussing on Swat and Malakand.