Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Raja Riaz on Wednesday called for unity to defeat terrorism. He assured the armed forces and other law enforcement agencies that the entire nation is standing behind them to curb terrorism from the country.
He expressed these views while the House resumed discussion on recent incidents of terrorism, particularly in Peshawar.
Criticizing the policies of the past, he said we should come out of the notion of good or bad Taliban. He said the theory of good or bad Taliban has proved as wrong. He said that the decision to bring terrorist elements from Afghanistan and let them settle in Pakistan was also wrong.
Commenting on the misappropriation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in last ten years, Raja Riaz said that 414 billion rupees were given to the provincial government during the last decade with an average of 40 billion rupees per annum. He said unfortunately, the previous rulers of the province received hefty amounts, but they did not bother to install close circuit TV cameras to make Peshawar a “Safe City.” He opined that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could have been better equipped to avert terrorist incidents in the province, had that money was not plundered.
Speaking on the occasion, Nasir Khan Musazai urged the political and military leadership to sit together to take a common and united decision to deal with the menace of terrorism. He emphasized on taking national decisions on the issues of terrorism and economy.
Mohsin Dawar said, “We have to take tough decisions to save our country from the scourge of terrorism.” He also called for constituting a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to fix responsibility of the wrongdoings committed in the past.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Mufti Abdul Shakoor said we should evolve a strategy other than military operation to eliminate terrorism from the country. He said all the political and other stakeholders should sit together to devise a policy to combat militancy.
