ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Monday said Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Asim Munir had warned in unequivocal terms that those security personnel involved in cross-border smuggling would face court martial and be incarcerated.
Addressing a news conference in the federal capital along with Interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, the interior minister spoke about the stringent measures being taken to prevent smuggling, stressing that no one would be exempt from law.
“Powerful elements involved in smuggling are also being stopped. No matter how influential a person is, there is no leniency for anyone,” he said.
The government, Bugti said, has taken active measures to control the smuggling of wheat, sugar, petroleum and other items in the past month besides establishing around 10 check posts with assistance of the customs department, Frontier Corps and other institutions.
As many as 1,068 FIRs have been lodged over Hawala Hundi and dollar smuggling, said Bugti, adding that another 242 cases have been registered in connection with narcotics control.
He further apprised that he was present at a recently held meeting where the army chief directed his officers to take strict action against smuggling and warned that officers found involved in smuggling themselves would be subjected to both court martial and incarceration. “It would be wrong to say that members of security forces were not involved in smuggling,” he added.
Terrorism
The caretaker government is also taking active measures to address the issue of terrorism with several apex committee meetings being held, the interim interior minister said, adding that “you will see changes in the days to come”.
Bugti’s remarks come days after deadly bombings in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on the occasion of Eid Miladun Nabi (PBUH).
Last Friday, at least 60 people were killed, including a policeman, and several others were injured when a suicide bomber targeted an Eid Miladun Nabi procession in Balochistan’s Mastung district. The interior ministry had said that all fingers point towards India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for the deadly explosion.
That same day, a second bomb attack in K-P’s Hangu district claimed the lives of at least five people and injured 12 others. The blast, reportedly carried out by the Islamic State Khorasan, was carried out at a police station’s mosque during Friday sermons.
“We have limited time and limited mandate and we want to fix things that are meant for daily basis. I must say we do not have any softness for anyone irrespective of how influential they are,” said Bugti.
Responding to a query, Bugti said that the latest incidents of terrorism were under investigation. “RAW’s involvement had been found in incidents that occurred previously in Balochistan. The current bombing is being investigated and once done, we will share details including its executioners and sympathisers,” he said.
No matter the kind of violence, “our security forces have the capacity and they have won the fight against terrorism by demonstrating courage,” added the interim minister.
“Only the state can exercise violence and this is our consensus. There is zero tolerance for it. You will see changes in days to come,” he vowed, adding that Pakistan was committed to eliminating all terrorists.
“If someone wants to impose their agenda through gunpoint, they are mistaken. Only the Constitution will prevail,” said Bugti.
He added that the recent attacks were not “unexpected” as the country had become a “hardened state” and this “reaction was due”.
Moving onto security for the polls, he said that a meeting was held with the Election Commission of Pakistan today and more meetings will be held in coming days. The government would turn to the state institutions if need for further security arises, he added.
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