Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has said all resources will be employed to detain absconder ex-SSP Rao Anwar involved in the killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud in a staged police encounter in Karachi on January 13.

“The issue of Naqeebullah Mehsud killing is not only a matter of the provincial government rather it is a matter of the state,” Abbasi said in a meeting with a delegation of Mehsud tribesmen, who called on him at the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Iqbal Zaffar Jhagrra, Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Tariq Fazl Chaudhry and Adviser to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Amir Muqam were also present on the occasion.

During the course of meeting, the tribesmen demanded immediate arrest of absconder Rao Anwar, clearing FATA and South Waziristan of landmines. The issue of missing persons was also discussed at the meeting.

The prime minister reiterated that the entire nation has had the respect for the sacrifices rendered by FATA people during the last decade in the war on terror.

“Justice will be delivered in Naqeeb case. The government will build a college after the name of Naqeebullah in Waziristan,” the PM remarked.

The people of Waziristan and FATA have experienced hard times during the war on terror and the people of the country have respect for their sacrifices, he said, adding that the government would resettle the tribal families in a dignified way.

“The government will compensate those who have suffered injuries in improvised explosive device (IED) explosions. The demining process will be expedited,” he added.

A member of the committee, who wished to remain unnamed, said that the demands they put before the prime minister included immediate detention of suspended SSP Rao Anwar, clearing of IEDs from Waziristan and FATA, producing of missing persons before court and stop rounding up locals when a blast take place.

He said the prime minister had assured them of resolution of some of their demands and asked the governor to look into some of their issues.

Separately, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) General Secretary Rashid Alimov called on the premier at his office on Tuesday.

During the meeting, the prime minister offered to connect the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with six approved routes of the SCO to enhance region’s connectivity.

“This would become a conduit linking Eurasian landmass, China, Russia and Central Asia with the Arabian Sea,” the prime minister.

This is the first visit of SCO secretary general after attainment of Pakistan’s full membership of SCO.

The prime minister expressed support for various SCO’s initiatives, including establishment of Development Bank, Development Fund, Business Council, Interbank Consortium and Small and Medium Enterprises.

Published in Daily Times, February 7^th 2018.