Nation salutes police fighting terror: Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Tuesday that the war on terror was not over yet though the overall situation had improved in the last two years. He explained that the police have a significant role to play in the decisive phase in which the war had entered.
Nisar lauded police personnel for their efforts and said that the entire nation salutes them for fighting terrorism. He advised the police to adopt unconventional methods in order to cope with various challenges.
He said that the war on terror cannot be won without the whole country’s cooperation and citizen committees should be established in this regard. He said that the military, civil armed forces, police and intelligence agencies must continue with their coordination in order to succeed in the war against terror.
He was talking to media people after addressing a Police Darbar at the Police Lines Rawalpindi. He said sanctity of institutions shall not be compromised. “Inviolability of institutions will be protected at all costs,” the minister averred.
He said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain’s statements frequently worsened the situation in Karachi. He said the government would not let anyone, including Altaf, attack the army or other state institutions.
The interior minister said frequent worsening of the situation in Karachi was not because of the performance of the government, the Rangers or the army, but it was because of Altaf Hussain’s “foul-mouthing”.
Nisar said, “I have no personal enmity with Altaf Hussain and we do not crave to create political grapple.” Altaf Hussain’s case is not political, it is legal and should be treated accordingly, he said.
“The case is being prosecuted in a British court not in Pakistan.” He said that cooperation between Pakistan and the United Kingdom was under way as the case was registered there. “As the interior minister, I assure you that Pakistan’s security interests will not be allowed to be affected by any negativity, be it from Altaf Hussain or someone else,” Nisar reiterated.
The minister shed light on the money laundering case against the MQM chief as well as the Imran Farooq murder case, explaining that these cases were registered in the UK, clarifying that the government had nothing against Altaf Hussain and it was Pakistan’s international responsibility to cooperate with the UK government.
Nisar said, “This case is not about the MQM, its not even about Altaf Hussain, it is a case about the murder of a Pakistani which took place in London.” The interior minister said that a legal reference was being drafted in legal terminology against Altaf Hussain which will include criminality.
He said that it will be from “government to government” and will include the Pakistani laws along with British laws. He reassured that the contents of the reference will be made available for the media eventually. “The Dr Imran Farooq murder case may not have any significance for Altaf Hussain or the MQM but it is important for the Pakistan government because he was a Pakistani,” Nisar maintained.
Responding to a question on providing documentary evidence against Altaf Hussain from a PTI leader to the Scotland Yard Police, Nisar said, “Has PTI leader Faisal Vawda more evidences than his leader Imran Khan who took bundles of documents but achieved nothing.”
The minister said such kinds of political grappling could harm the case proceedings. He said the government took steps intelligently and carefully in the Imran Farooq case.
To another question, Nisar said the previous government didn’t cooperate with the British Police in Dr Imran Farooq’s murder case. Earlier, addressing a ceremony at the Rawalpindi Police Lines, Nisar said that the noose around the terrorists had been tightened.
APP adds: British High Commissioner Philip Barton said that the United Kingdom appreciates the Pakistan government efforts for the welfare of people.He called on Chaudhry Nisar at the Punjab House, said a press release issued here.
Both leaders also discussed the Pak-UK bilateral relations, the regional situation and issues of mutual concern. Nisar said that Pakistan and the UK enjoy excellent relations, which would be further strengthened.