Nisar orders high security alert in twin cities

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday directed the police and district administration of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to keep the twin cities’ security on high alert, as the situation was sensitive in the wake of the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan.

He said this while chairing a meeting of the district and police administration of the twin cities here.

The minister said the security agencies need to work beyond their call of duty and show utmost responsibility to counter any unfortunate incident.

Reviewing the overall security plan of the twin cities, the minister said there should be flawless coordination between the security apparatus for effectively tackling emergency situations.

He also directed the police to further enhance their capacity through physical training and modern equipment.

The minister directed tightened security of sensitive places. He said surprise search operations, especially in adjoining areas of Islamabad Airport, be made more intensive.

He said joint patrolling teams of the Rangers and police had given a sense of security to the residents but their services need to be made more target-oriented and effective.

Why does Qadri want to land in the capital, asks Nisar

 

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday questioned the intentions of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri for landing in Islamabad while he had planned to proceed to Lahore.
“There should be no doubt that no one will be allowed to conduct any march on Islamabad in the guise of a rally or sit-in,” Chaudhry Nisar said in a statement from his office after a high-level meeting called to discuss security matters relating to Dr Tahirul Qadri.

The minister said due to severe security threats, it was the responsibility of the government to safely guide Dr Qadri and his companions to Lahore.The minister said everyone was allowed to take part in political gatherings but lawful action would be taken against those intending to destablise the government through unconstitutional means.

Nisar said that currently the attention of all the security institutions was towards the war against terror, and it was beyond understanding why Tahirul Qadri wanted to create a disturbance at this critical moment.

It is understood that once Dr Qadri lands in Islamabad, he will be immediately dispatched to Lahore by air. He will have to face some questioning about allegations of money laundering at the airport by the officials concerned before proceeding, the sources said.

The government has decided to keep the federal capital an ‘out of bounds area’ for processions and any huge rally that could be termed a ‘long march’. The government in close and extensive consultations at the high-level has reached the conclusion that Islamabad being the seat of power of the federal government must be protected against any agitation since such activities become a symbol of the erosion of the authority of the administration.

APP adds from Lahore: A spokesman for the Home Department Punjab said Dr Qadri was facing a security threat.He said after the military operation in North Waziristan, terrorists had announced attacks on important political and religious leaders and added that there was also a threat of terrorism at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport Islamabad and other airports.

The spokesman said terrorists could also target the slow moving convoy of the PAT on the GT Road. He said that leaders of the Tehrik-e-Minhajul Quran had been informed about the security threats.

Sindh government had been warned of threats to old airport gates: Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Thursday that the Sindh government had been warned of threats to the Karachi old airport gate which was used by terrorists during an attack on Sunday night.

Speaking to media outside Parliament, Nisar said the federal government had written to the Sindh government in March about specific old airports gates not being secure. The report mentioned that terrorists were aware of these unsecure gates at the Karachi airport. Nisar added that despite the warning no measures were implemented by the provincial government.

The interior minister further said six security alerts had been sent to the Sindh government. He asked what action had been taken in light of these alerts by those individuals who were apologising daily for the Karachi airport attack. Nisar questioned why no security checks had been setup in the sensitive area used by the terrorists to enter the airport.

Chaudhry Nisar said upon his arrival in Karachi the chief minister and IG Sindh were informed of a meeting; however he failed to understand the logic of the meeting being at any other location when the attack had taken place at the airport.

“Is this airport in India that it is not the responsibility of the Sindh government,” Nisar said while questioning if the terrorists had entered the airport via parachutes or helicopters.

Nisar said he was informed that the airport had been cleared and he had asked for the wall of the cold storage to be broken. According to Nisar rescue and relief was the responsibility of the chief minister but he was the one who called for machinery to aid in rescue efforts.

The interior minister said only the truth should be told to the people as he called for a judicial inquiry of the incident by a Sindh High Court judge.

Karachi airport attack: Chaudhry Nisar slams Sindh govt over ‘apathy’

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday took a strong exception to Sindh government for not paying heed to interior ministry’s correspondence about security at the gates of old airport.

Calling for a judicial inquiry, he said that the Karachi airport incident was a result of non-seriousness on part of Sindh government which is condemnable. He urged the provincial government to speak truth to the nation.

He said that the Sindh government fulfilled its responsibilities over the last five months and it sent as many as six alert regarding potential terrorist attacks. Nisar Ali Khan said that the Sindh government didn’t take action despite it was informed precisely about the airport gates vulnerable to militant attacks.

The minister said as to why measures were not taken on the basis of intelligence information to prevent the attack.

19 killed, 29 injured in Karachi airport attack: Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Giving details about the audacious militant attack on Karachi Airport, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that 19 people were killed and 29 others injured in the attack.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he said that the Pakistan Army, the Rangers, the Airport Security Force and the police had foiled the attack.

He said all the national assents remained safe in the attack except some minor damages to a couple of aircraft. He said that 11 ASF and seven Rangers personnel were killed in the operation.

The minister said that within the 20 minutes of the attack, the army had reached the airport and 10 militants had been killed till 1:30 am.

He said that 10 militants entered the facility through two different entry points of the airport where three of them blew themselves up while seven others were killed by the security forces.

The minister said that the attackers appeared to be foreign nationals and the weapons they were using hinted towards a certain country. He, however, refrained from confirming his claim before further investigation.

Chaudhry Nisar said that the forces had saved the people’s lives by rendering sacrifices.

Nisar debunks Reuters report on NWA as ‘nonsense’

 

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has termed as “nonsensical and farcical” the contents of a Reuters report about the proceedings and content of the recently held security meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army chief General Raheel Sharif.
In a statement issued here today, he said this is not the first time that this news agency has come up with whimsical and distorted reports about civil-military relations.

Clarifying the situation, the minister said the meeting was held in a highly congenial and positive atmosphere in which wide ranging issues pertaining to national security, including the situation on our borders, was discussed.

“No decision for a full-scale military operation in North Waziristan was taken. There was no decision to call off the dialogue process, nor was any such demand made from either side as reported by the news agency, he added.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said the current state of air strikes and limited military action is in continuation of the already taken decision that any act of violence or terrorism against civilian or military targets will meet a calibrated and measured response.

The minister also clarified that no decision has been taken to hand over the security of Islamabad and other major cities to the army nor is Nacta involved in this whole matter in any manner as has been reported in a section of press. What is being misconceived and misinterpreted is an effort by the government to strengthen the capacity of the police and other civilian law enforcing agencies through the support, input and coordination with the armed forces, he added.

He said this is in no way a recent decision, and the whole process is being fine-tuned for quite some time. Since this entire exercise is still under consideration and discussion, it is too early to pass judgments as a press report has done, as to what form and ultimate formulation this coordination will take.

Military sources in Rawalpindi, commenting on the news story by Reuters, said that the aerial strikes on Wednesday in North Waziristan Agency, in which 60 terrorists were killed, were carried out after approval of the political government, in response to terrorists acts of the last few weeks in Fata, KP and Karachi in which several civilian and military personnel embraced shahadat. When The News asked Reuters for a response to the statement by the Interior Minister and military sources, a Reuters reporter said they will do a new story on the subject on Sunday and respond to all the points.

Talks can’t go ahead in tug-of-war like situation: Nisar

 

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Friday that the government-Taliban talks could not move ahead in an environment of tug-of-war.
Talking to media persons at the Nadra headquarters after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on setting up of citizen facilitation centres in the province, Chaudhry Nisar said the government was sincere in the dialogue process and there was no delay on its part. “But in such an atmosphere of tension, stress and strain when everybody is busy in political point-scoring, results of negotiations between the government and the Taliban could not be obtained,” the minister said. He said the dialogue process with the Taliban could not move ahead in an atmosphere of contradictory statements.

The minister said he would present a report to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his return from London that in view of the present situation, the dialogue process could not be taken forward.

“It will be difficult to continue the process of negotiations in the situation of polarisation generated unfortunately by the people who are taking part in the reconciliation process,” the minister maintained, adding that they should express their point of view in the meeting, not in TV talk shows or public meetings.

Chaudhry Nisar said the dialogue process was the only way to handle these matters and there had been positive progress, which led to reduction in violence. He said due to the whole process, contacts had been established with the Taliban and the government came to know about their thinking, views and demands.

He said the date for the next meeting was to be fixed by the other side. He said there was no hitch from the government or the military. The minister said he wanted that the next meeting of the Taliban-government committees should be decisive and both sides should put their complete agendas on the table.

“Possibly on Monday, I will submit a report to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to inform himstakeholders, were forcefully criticising the dialogue process. “At the start, there were people who were opposed to the dialogue process and we listened to them and tolerated them as it is part of democracy,” he said, adding that now even those who were supporters of dialogue were showing contradiction in their stance.

The minister said the dialogue process was a sensitive and complex issue but every day contradictory statements were being made about it. “Those who were supposed to assist in the dialogue process were making one statement in indoor meeting and saying something else at the public meetings,” Nisar said.

The minister emphatically stated that there has never been any deadlock in the peace process.Responding to a question, the minister said non-combatant Taliban prisoners were released in consultation with military authorities, adding that there was no conflict between the government and military leadership. “There is no hurdle from the government or the army in the dialogue process. The government is serious in this matter and there is no delay from its side,” he maintained.

He said it had been said by certain quarters on the issue of release of prisoners that the army was not supporting it. He explained that the prisoners who were released earlier were in the control of army, which decided who were non-combatants and should be released.

To a question about civil-military relations, he said the situation was normal at present as it was in the past.Earlier, speaking on the occasion of signing ceremony of MoU, the minister said Nadra earned a profit of Rs1.3 billion in three months and it had been put in the right direction through many changes in the last eight months.

He said more than 350 ghost employees were identified, adding that now transparent online tests would be held for posting of Nadra employees abroad.He said in the past such postings were made in violation of rules and on the basis of nepotism.The minister said the new Nadra chairman would be appointed by a committee according to the relevant ordinance

Reference to Pemra shows on which side govt stands: Nisar

 

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Friday that by sending the reference to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra), it had become clear on whose side the government was standing. He said that they always helped the Jang and Geo TV in the time of distress.
Ch Nisar categorically stated that the media trial of armed forces, including the ISI and army, was not acceptable.Talking to newsmen informally here on Friday, he said that no one should misunderstand the government’s stance towards the defence institutions, as it was bound by the law and Constitution to preserve their honour and dignity.

Chaudhry Nisar said the federal government was cooperating with the Sindh Police in its probe into the attack on Hamid Mir but it was unfortunate to see that instead of cooperating in the investigation, a media trial was going on.

He said that Geo and Jang, under the pretext of the attack on Hamid Mir, was playing the roles of the complainant, police, prosecutor and judge themselves.The Indian and the Western media maligned Pakistan after the coverage of Geo, Nisar said and added that the attack on Hamid Mir would be investigated and taken to its logical end.

He said Hamid Mir should have given his statement to the investigation agencies instead of Aamir Mir.He blamed the Islamabad Police for not inquiring into the matter but he didn’t provide any phone number or information to the police, the interior minister added. —Online

APP adds: Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said it was a constitutional and legal obligation of the government to protect the honour of the armed forces and security and intelligence agencies.

Chaudhry Nisar said the government strongly condemned the attack on Hamid Mir and expressed sympathy with his family. He said as an interior minister, it was his responsibility to bring to justice the culprits involved in the Hamid Mir incident.

The minister said it was also his responsibility to ensure that the dignity of defence institutions was safeguarded.He said that the federal government had also set up a three-member judicial commission that would prepare its report within 21 days. The commission would hand over the report to the government, which would make it public, he added.

Chaudhry Nisar said in the statement given by Hamid Mir it was also stated that the Islamabad Police did not take action on his complaint on a threatening phone call received by him. “I ordered an inquiry into it last evening and according to police, Hamid Mir had not provided any telephone number to the police,” he said.

About the incident of planting a bomb underneath the car of Hamid Mir, he said the police arrested the driver of Hamid Mir but he was later released after the TTP accepted responsibility.

Chaudhry Nisar said the media trial should be stopped as it creates misunderstanding. After the attack on Hamid Mir, the ISPR condemned the incident and called for the formation of a commission to hold a probe into it, he added.

The minister said that the government, opposition and security institutions agreed that culprits should be brought to book and without an inquiry and evidence, a media trial should not be carried out, as the enemies would benefit from it.

He said India and the United States had launched huge propaganda in the wake of the incident adding an independent media was the need of Pakistan, however, dignified security institutions were also imperative for the country.

The minister said they should step back, take a deep breath and control the situation. He said that he tried in the past and even now he was trying to cool down the matter, adding he always continued his struggle for an independent media and would always oppose a ban on any media organisation.

He appealed to all sides to show patience and stop the media trial.Chaudhry Nisar said the issue of statement given by the Taliban to malign the top intelligence agency over the Hamid Mir incident was taken up by him with the Taliban nominated committee. He protested to them as, on the one side, a dialogue was being held and on the other side, they were maligning the agency.He said all the intelligence and security agencies were coordinating in the investigation of Hamid Mir incident.

Everyone should take one step back to control situation: Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that it is his responsibility to bring the culprits involved in the attack on Geo News anchorperson Hamid Mir to book.

Talking to media here Friday, Chaudhry Nisar said that the government has constituted a three-member judicial commission tasked to probe the attack and all the evidence of the attack should be presented before the commission.

He expressed sympathy with Hamid Mir and his family members.

Nisar said that no untoward incident took place with Hamid Mir in Islamabad after PML-N assumed the government. He said Mr. Mir neither lodged any complain nor provided any numbers which might have been used for threatening him during the PML-N’s current government.

He further said that former police officials have denied any report over attack on Mr. Mir’s children. He said that if Hamid Mir or his family has any objection over Islamabad police then he would have the probe.

The interior minister further said that the government would go to any extent to unearth the culprits involved in the attack on the renowned journalist.

He called for an end to “media trial” which he said is being conducted over the issue without any evidence. The enemies are taking advantage of it, he added.

Nisar further said that he is making efforts to cool down the situation and for that purpose everyone should take one step back.

The minister said he stands by Geo and Jang group. Both Freedom of media and prestigious defence institutions are pivotal for the country, he added.

Nisar summons joint meeting of govt, Taliban teams today

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has summoned a joint meeting of Taliban and government negotiating committees here today (Wednesday).

According to a statement issued from the Interior Ministry, the meeting will discuss progress in dialogue process and chalk out future line of action.

It will be the first meeting of the committees after Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) announced not to extend ceasefire.

TTP had announced that the 40-day long ceasefire will not be extended.

In a statement TTP spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid had said the government did not give a satisfactory response to the Taliban’s 40-day ceasefire and 50 of their detained members were killed during this period.

The TTP spokesman said the decision to not extend the ceasefire was taken by the Taliban shura. Shahidullah Shahid added if the government takes any serious step, the TTP will respond.

According to Shahidullah Shahid the dialogue process with the government would continue.

The TTP had declared a month-long ceasefire on March 1, 2014 during the dialogue process with the government. Later the ceasefire was extended for ten days which expired on April 10, 2014.

Govt, military rift to be over soon: Nisar

 

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Sunday conceded that the rift between the military and the government were caused by some statements. However, he said the controversy would be over soon.
Addressing a press conference at the Punjab House, he said that civil-military relations had become stronger than in the past. He said that the government and military had the same ‘Qibla’ (direction).

“However, irritants have been created at some stages but we will get over them and we are right on the line,” the minister said.He ruled out the release of Taliban combatants, saying that no such demand was made by the TTP either.

The minister said that there was no difference of policies between the government and the military regarding the dialogue process and the release of non-combatant prisoners. The release of non-combatants was carried out with consensus, he added. He maintained that the army was on board regarding the release of non-combatants.

He said that had the armed forces not been fully on board, the progress he had made in dealing with the Taliban wouldn’t have been possible.The government had held consultations with the army over the issue of setting Taliban prisoners free, he said.

Nisar said neither were the peace talks suspended nor was there any deadlock in this connection.He dispelled the impression that there was a deadlock in peace talks between the government and the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The minister said that a comprehensive dialogue with the Taliban would start from the next meeting to be held in a couple of days.Talks between the government side and the Taliban were formally started a couple of weeks ago and the next meeting would be held with a comprehensive agenda, he said.

“Our agenda for the next meeting with the Taliban is peace, the Constitution and the law. We want complete peace in the country and things are moving in the right direction”, he said. He contradicted the news item that a Taliban commander had been released.

The minister noted that three to seven violent incidents had taken place prior to the talks but recently not a single such act had occured.“A second round of direct talks between the government and Taliban mediators will be held next week as per schedule,” he said.

“It was mutually agreed in our previous meeting with the Taliban’s interlocutors that talks would be held either on Monday and Tuesday or after this Sunday,” he explained.

The government negotiation committee would go to Wazirsitan to hand over the list of prisoners in a few days, he said. Some foreign elements, he said, were trying to sabotage the peace process.

He said the war could not be fought and won by the security forces alone, adding that the whole nation would have to unite to win the fight against terrorism.Nisar elaborated that civil-military relations were very positive and called for avoiding political point-scoring on national security issues.

He appreciated the role of some opposition parties in this regard. “The PTI, despite being an opposition party, has demonstrated responsibility on the issue of terrorism,” he added. Talking about progress regarding the investigation into the Islamabad Sabzi Mandi blast, Nisar said that satisfactory leads were traced during the last 72 hours. He said that it had been confirmed that the device was planted in a guava box transported from southern Punjab by a passenger bus to Pir Wadhai and later shifted to Sabzi Mandi by a Suzuki pickup. He said that the people engaged in the investigation of the case focused on the activists involved in planting the explosive device in the guava box and rounded up 8 to 10 persons who transported the box to Pir Wadhai and shifted it to Sabzi Mandi.

The specific vehicle was also included in the probe, he said.He avoided giving the name of the city from where the guava crate was loaded. Sources hinted that the crate was loaded from areas adjoining Muzaffargarh.

The people who had ruined the security situation of the country were criticising the government and statements were being issued by people under whose rule the situation had reached its current state, he said.

Nisar disclosed that the Baloch group which had claimed responsibility for the Islamabad fruit market blast was not involved in the terrorist attack. He lashed out at opposition parties for scoring points on the media following the Islamabad bombing.

The minister pointed out that even the Taliban had condemned the recent incident in Islamabad’s fruit and vegetable market, terming it an un-Islamic and immoral act. This was a major shift on their part, which was a positive development, he added.

He said the government was committed to ensure the installation and provision of a modern security system in the federal capital within a year.The central command system was being upgraded, with the installation of 2,400 of the latest security cameras, besides capacity building of security personnel, he added.

The minister said the elite force from Punjab and Rangers would be deployed in the federal capital for better security and surveillance. The latest equipment would also be provided to the law enforcement agencies.

Nisar said the Islamabad police were working on the investigation report on the fruit market blast, taking all aspects into consideration to ensure a thorough probe.He said it was not possible to ensure proper security of the fruit and vegetable market having an area of 400 kanals and with an adjacent Katchi Abadi (slum) of 200,000 inhabitants, including foreigners.

He said it was not possible to manually check everyone as 10,000 to 15,000 people visited the place at a time, while around 250 vehicles came to the market daily.He said not all but several unregistered people had been living in the Katchi Abadis for the last 12 years. “Who had allowed them to live there?” he asked.

He said the residents of Katchi Abadis should be shifted to other places, but not those who were unregistered. The National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) had been given the task to ascertain the particulars of these people and the police would be involved in the next phase for the verification of their record, he added.

Scanners purchased by previous govt dysfunctional: Nisar

 

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Minister for Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, has said that the previous government had purchased scanners at the cost of Rs1 billion which were all dysfunctional and could not scan the explosive material.
He said that it was not humanly possible for the police to check all the trucks loaded with a variety of goods entering Islamabad from different routes.He stressed the need for better and more effective coordination among all the departments concerned and said the police should be two steps ahead of the terrorists.

He expressed these views while chairing a high-level meeting on the unfortunate incident which took place at the Sabzi Mandi in Islamabad on Wednesday.The minister directed that due care should be taken of all the injured at government expense and no stone be left unturned to help the people affected by this tragedy.

He asked the Islamabad administration and police to identify potential targets in the federal capital and work out a comprehensive security plan to safeguard them.Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan directed the capital administration to take over the control of I-11 wholesale market from the CDA and work out a security plan in consultation with local business leaders. He said that all its entry and exit points should be properly regulated and surveillance cameras should be installed there.

He said that registration of residents of Katchi Abadis and suburban areas of Islamabad should be completed immediately and further support be sought from intelligence agencies. He said joint patrolling by police and Rangers must start this month.

The minister also asked the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) to play a proactive role in evolving a strategy for the protection of Islamabad and ensure better coordination among intelligence and security agencies.

Chaudhry Nisar said that compensation to the injured and relatives of the deceased should be paid within the next three days as per the package approved in the case of F-8 District Court incident.

Earlier, the chief commissioner and acting IG police briefed the minister about the details of the incident. The secretary interior, chief commissioner, Islamabad, deputy commissioner, Islamabad, IG Police, NACTA National Coordinator (NC) and Additional IG attended the meeting.

Govt to release 13 Taliban prisoners: Nisar

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said that those who were opposing talks should see how much lives have been saved since the process began.

Talking to media on Saturday, he said talk process would bring peace in Pakistan. He, however, added that there was a need to show patience to steer the country out of difficulties.

He said that the government wanted to establish peace in the country through talks within the parameters of the Constitution and the law.

Nisar said that the government had decided to release 13 Taliban prisoners as confidence building measure. He said that process of release of non-combatant prisoners was being initiated from both sides.

The minister said that the Taliban should also release non-combatant and innocent prisoners. He said that the government had also raised the issue of release of Prof Ajmal and sons of Yousuf Raza Gilani and late Salman Tasir.

He said that the government had released Taliban prisoners as a good will gesture.

 

Nisar convenes meeting of govt, Taliban committees today

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has convened a joint meeting of the government and Taliban committees here today (Saturday).

According to the interior ministry, the meeting will consider matters relating to next phase of direct talks with the Taliban.

The upcoming government committee’s direct meeting with the Taliban Shura is likely to bring a positive development.

Lot of progress made in talks with Taliban, claims Nisar

ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Interior, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, said on Thursday that a lot of progress had been made in the talks with the Taliban.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of a think tank the Centre for Policy Research and Dialogue, the minister said a meeting would be held soon to review the dialogue process with the Taliban. He said Pakistan will become peaceful because of the efforts made by the government.

Ch Nisar said the former rulers imposed a war on Pakistan for 12 years to serve the foreign interests. “This war continued for over a decade and nobody held talks to resolve the conflict,” the minister said.

He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government started talks and in a few months, a headway was made in the process. “Now those people who did not take any step to initiate the talks are raising objections and resorting to criticism,” he added.

Chaudhry Nisar said facts should not be distorted, as there were no acts of terrorism from 2001 to 2004 in the tribal areas. “No Pakistani or tribesman was involved in the incident of 9/11 but the rulers of the time got the war stuck in their throat,” he said, adding that millions of people in Fata were displaced from their homes in the previous years. He said Islam is not a religion of violence but it is all about peace and forgiveness and Allah dislikes chaos.

Chaudhry Nisar, talking about removing the name of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf from the Exit Control List (ECL), said the government had clarified its position on the issue. He said Musharraf shifted to his farmhouse from the AFIC without informing the government.

The minister said the people had stopped making a difference between right and wrong and truth and falsehood. He said the rulers should adopt the strictest standards of accountability as it was necessary for stopping degeneration in the society.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry Nisar had an unscheduled meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday evening and it is understood that the minister briefed the premier about the reported release of 19 detainees in the tribal areas.

Sources in the Prime Minister’s House told The News that an international wire service wrongly involved the Prime Minister’s Office in the release of such detainees. The detainees who were released are non-combatants and the impression that the prime minister asked for their release or it was part of any deal with the Taliban was false.

No authorisation has been given by the prime minister in this regard. The Prime Minister’s House officially clarified that the release of some prisoners involved in petty crimes by the local political administration had been wrongly termed as release of the Taliban prisoners.

Nawaz, Nisar discuss peace talks, Musharraf affairs

 

 

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had an important and extensive meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here at the Prime Minister’s House on Monday.
The minister had to skip the National Assembly session for the meeting, and it is understood that the two leaders have evolved a strategy to deal with the upcoming developments with regard to dialogue with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

The leaders had discussions pertaining to the next round of dialogue with Taliban in the wake of so-called ceasefire expiry from today (Tuesday). It was a scheduled meeting, and the Prime Minister’s Special Secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad was also took part in the discussions. Fawad is also an important member of the government committee that ventured direct talks with Talban in North Waziristan last month.

Well placed sources of the Prime Minister’s House told The News here on Monday evening that Chaudhry Nisar Ali had a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The primary subject of the meeting was to chalk out a strategy regarding talks with Taliban, but Pervez Musharraf case also came under discussion as part of the current issue. The sources indicated that the prime minister is determined to follow the verdicts of the judiciary in the case of Musharraf. It is unlikely that the government would grant him permission to leave the country without obtaining certain assurances, the sources said. It is expected that Prime Minister Nawaz will take the matter in the federal cabinet if the government will have to consider any relaxation for the retired General.

Meanwhile, the government is ascertaining the health condition of Pervez Musharraf’s ailing mother through diplomatic channels. The report is likely to reach Islamabad in the wee hours of Tuesday. It will also help in reaching conclusion for the government, the sources said.

A meeting between the civil and military leadership will be held in two days here in Islamabad where the issue of talks with Taliban would be discussed. Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif will also attend the meeting. The meeting would be concentrating exclusively on the dialogue with Taliban, the sources said.

PM Nawaz, Nisar discuss Taliban talks

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif here on Saturday.

During the meeting the future strategy for dialogue with the Taliban and steps required for peace in the country were discussed.

The interior minister met with Prime Minister Sharif ahead of his scheduled meeting with the government and Taliban committees.

Nisar to chair govt., Taliban committees meeting today

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has called a meeting of the government and Taliban negotiation committees today (Saturday.

Sources said the meeting of the two committees chaired by the interior minister would be deliberate over the future strategy for talks with the Taliban Shura and the agenda. The meeting would also review the outcome of the earlier maiden meeting of the government committee with the Taliban Shura.

Talking to Geo News, Taliban committee member Professor Ibrahim said that the process of confidence building measures has started with the meeting of government committee and Taliban Shura. He hoped the process of releasing prisoners would soon begin.

Professor Ibrahim said both committees would soon be proceeding to the tribal areas for holding second meeting with Taliban Shura. He said that the agenda of the meeting would be restoration of lasting peace by making the ceasefire permanent.

Nisar meets government committee

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan met with the government committee tasked with holding peace talks with the Taliban.

Nisar was briefed by the committee over their first direct meeting with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Shura which took place at an undisclosed location in North Waziristan yesterday (Wednesday).

The interior minister and government committee discussed demands put forward by the TTP Shura during yesterday’s meeting.