Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: PPP Senator Rehman Malik on Tuesday urged the government to convene All Parties Conference (APC) to evolve a joint strategy against terrorism.

“Government should immediately call APC against the recent wave of terrorism in the country. We will have to set our eyes on global politics to bring improvement in the situation in Pakistan. Security agencies, political parties and people will have to work together on one page for weeding out terrorism. Elimination of terrorism from Afghanistan is must for eradication of terrorism from Pakistan”, he said this in an exclusive interview with Daily Times.

“It is responsibility of Prime Minister (PM) that he should convene APC to evolve a joint strategy to deal with terrorism. All the clauses of National Action Plan (NAP) should be implemented forthwith, he stressed. Why the madrassa reforms laid down in NAP have not been enforced so far.”The former interior minister said terrorists have no religion nor they belong to any country and they work on others agenda.

“Daesh road map is an open secret. What was done in Iraq, Syria and Europe is all before us.”

“In order to weed out terrorism, elimination of terrorism from Afghanistan is must. Pakistan was left with no other option except to take action against terrorists in Afghanistan. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani should understand it and laud the steps taken by Pakistan because terrorists are terrorists no matter they are in Afghanistan or in Pakistan. If Ashraf Ghani will play game together with India then the entire Afghanistan will be affected by it and the peace of the entire region will be put at stake.”

“If Afghanistan takes any action on the operation being conducted by Pakistan against terrorists in Afghan territory then our armed forces are capable of giving a befitting reply,” he remarked.

Afghanistan should understand that Pakistan would not tolerate terrorism anymore, he added.

Only the government can tell about the causes behind arrest of Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed. “Hafiz Saeed was detained on my orders when I was interior minister following Bombay attack so that no hindrance is created on the way to investigating Bombay attacks. Supreme Court imposed fine amounting to Rs 15000 on Interior Ministry for detaining Hafiz Saeed without assigning any reason. Hafiz Saeed was placed in black list of UN at that time. Had Pakistan not taken action against him then our country could have been blacklisted.”

“I had informed the government a week before about the recent wave of terrorism that the terrorists are resurfacing and regrouping but the government did not take any step,” he held.

“Had government taken timely action against Jamaatul Ahrar headquarters near Torkham borders, the country could have been saved from terror attacks, he remarked.

The Pakistanis need security more than development, he observed. 25 percent budget be slashed from development funds and be provided to security agencies because motorway and highways are of no use unless the people are provided security and safety.

“I warn political rivals if they use unethical language against Bilawal Bhutto in the future then we will pay back them in the same coin,” he stated.

“Efforts are underway to malign PPP by levelling allegations of facilitating terrorists. On one hand, terrorists are being linked to Jamaatul Ahrar, and on the other side the PPP workers are being alleged that bombs were being made in Sindh. I strongly condemn this conspiracy.”

“My name is not included in Panama leaks,” he said, adding, “My report with reference to Ishaq Dar has become part of court proceedings. The court is respectable and if it summons me in this respect I will appear before it.”

He held military courts were set up for two years and several terrorists were executed through these courts. If the government wants to table any bill with reference to these courts then it has two-thirds majority it can float the bill and get it passed or it should summon a joint parliamentary session.

Regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, he said, “It is our soul and heart as this project had moved ahead through the efforts of former president Asif Zardari. During PPP regime, agreement on gas pipeline was signed with Iran despite international pressure.”

He added, “Had our foreign policy been better then the relationship between UAE and India would not have moved forward. Pakistan should have cast vote in favour of UAE in T-20.”

The Punjab government is wasting a major chunk of its budget on publicity, he concluded.