Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Monday that internal security was a multifaceted problem and there was a need for a continuous effort and monitoring to deal with this problem.

“We must always think beyond ourselves and take internal security as a national issue and obligation,” said the interior minister while talking to 30 newly promoted majors general who were participating in a command and leadership course at the National Defence University here on Monday.

The interior minister said that internal security of the country was affected by internal, regional and geo-political factors. Besides Pakistan’s known enemies, he said, there were some in the guise of friends who wanted to benefit from instability in the country.

He said it was unfortunate that the last government did not develop any internal security policy despite suffering heavily at the hands of terrorists. He said that hundreds of thousands of lives were lost in terror attacks in recent years. He said that five to six bombs were exploding everyday on an average. He said that people’s lives and properties were not safe in any part of the country, but the successive governments continued to ignore the security issue. Khan said the incumbent government was the first to come up with an internal security policy and the National Action Plan last year.

Recounting the challenges facing the internal security policy, the interior minister said that dealing with the militants and their sympathizers was the real challenge. He said the National Action Plan was developed after last year’s terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar. He said that all political forces were united on the National Action Plan. Since then, he said, there was a marked improvement in the security situation in the country. He said it would be unfair to ignore to the achievements made under the National Action Plan. He said that a robust three-layer security mechanism had been put in place in all major cities under the National Action Plan.

Khan said that civil-military consensus on the national security led to a significant improvement in the security situation in the country. He however said that sporadic incidents of terrorism were unfortunate and they should not be allowed to undo the gains made under the National Action Plan. He said that isolated and desperate attacks by militants should not be allowed to undermine the successes of the ongoing war on terrorism.

Khan said that those who were spreading pessimism after every incident were playing into the hands of the enemies of Pakistan. He said that some political parties and individuals were trying to score points at the cost of national interest and security. He said that statements and analyses by certain political leaders and their cohorts sent a message of weakness and cowardice. He said the political leadership should show resolve and commitment at this difficult time.

Meanwhile, taking notice of police personnel working on unauthorised places or performing duties at homes of irrelevant officers, the interior minister has directed the inspector general of police to ensure return of such employees to the actual points or places within three days.

Deploying the personnel for the personal work at homes is condemnable. He warned that action would be taken against the officers violating the rules.