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We must eliminate ‘ugly heads of terror’: Zardari

* Pakistan in critical phase, president tells parliament
* Seeks in-camera ‘national security briefing’ for parliament
* Says Pakistan will defend sovereignty, won’t allow terrorists to operate from its soil

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is passing through a critical phase and must root out all forms of terrorism and extremism from its soil, President Asif Ali Zardari told a joint session of parliament on Saturday.

“We must root out terrorism and extremism wherever and whenever they may rear their ugly heads,” he said in his maiden address to the parliament.

Briefing for parliament: The president said he would ask the government to hold a national security briefing for an in-camera joint session of parliament.

“Let everyone have an opportunity to make an informed judgment about the risks to our beloved country and about how we should move forward with responsibility and clarity of vision.”

Sovereignty: “We will not tolerate the violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity by any power in the name of combating terrorism,” Zardari said, without naming the United States.

But at the same time, Pakistan must stop militants from using its territory for attacks on other countries, he said. Reforming the Tribal Areas and bringing them into the mainstream could no longer be delayed, he said. staff report/agencies

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