RAWALPINDI - Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali yesterday claimed that Islamic State has no existence in Pakistan but many other terrorist groups have been fuelling terror in the country by wearing the mask of IS.
“The IS (or Daesh) has no presence in Pakistan. The other militant groups, which are already involved in anti-state activities, are using its name,” the minister said.
There have been conflicting claims on official level about the presence of Daesh in the country and the threat this Middle Eastern terrorist organisation poses to Pakistan.
Intelligence Bureau Director-General Aftab Sultan on Thursday testified before a Senate committee that hundreds of fighters from Pakistan were joining self-styled militant organisation, Daesh, in Syria.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said the other day there was no existence of Daesh in the country and the reports published in this regard have been presented out of context. He added that there was no scope that Deash can get roots in Pakistan.
Addressing newly-elected local government representatives and PML-N workers at TMA Hall, Interior Minister Nisar Ali said that the IS is present in North Africa and Middle East but it does not exist in Pakistan.
Chaudhry Nisar said that Pakistan has achieved a lot of success in the ongoing war on terror due to great sacrifices rendered by the army, police and other security forces. “We have won the battle against terrorism but now we will have to win the psychological war.”
He said that security forces had carried out more than 12,000 operations against the terrorists on information provided by intelligence agencies in various parts of the country. “I will not sit peacefully until I break the nexus of terrorist organisations.”
The minister said that terrorist attacks have been reduced considerably because of efforts of the government and the security forces. “Pakistani armed forces have the capability to cope with any kind of terrorism or threat.”
Nisar said the government has taken Wafaqul Madaris on board on issue of registration of seminaries. He added that it was wrong perception that all the seminaries were involved in terrorism or anti-state activities.
“Soon the meeting of Wafaqul Madaris will be convened to which the chief of army staff (COAS) and media will also be invited as observers,” the interior minister said.
He expressed his deep concern over rumour of terrorist attack on Government Postgraduate Viqar-un-Nisa College for Women and appealed the media not to highlight the activities of the terrorists. “Our enemies make merry over such flairs in the media.”
Referring to the PPP, the minister said those who are raising fingers at the performance of PML-N had done nothing during their five-year tenure. He said the terrorists used to carry out five to 10 blasts daily during PPP tenure but now the ratio was down because of sacrifices of Pakistan Army and other law enforcement agencies.
“My opponents are ganged up against me and run baseless propaganda against me whenever I place my foot on their tale,” he said in a very aggressive tone. He said that anti-state elements do not deserve mercy and added that the political opponents should help the government kick out terrorists from the country instead of scoring political points.
The federal minister said the government wants to build dams to meet water shortage but there were some legal problems being faced in acquiring land for the purpose.
Responding to media questions, Nisar said it was wrong that the government was not taking interest in Imran Farooq murder case; rather, the case was being pursued by the government. He added the government has put the name of famous model Ayyan Ali on exit control list on court orders.