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ISLAMABAD – Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Monday said that as per Pakistan’s intelligence agencies there was no terror threat to the New Zealand cricket team as he termed the security to the team foolproof.
“The New Zealand doesn’t have as much force as the number we provided for the security of their cricket team,” he said adding that it was the government’s responsibility.
Addressing a weekly press conference here at the Ministry of Interior, he said that the nation was upset on this but no one should be disappointed. The day will come when international cricket will resume in Pakistan, he also said.
The minister also questioned the Five Eyes alliance that reportedly had warned NZ team about the threat and asked, “Where was the alliance when high security experts of world were visiting Pakistan and when the New Zealand team was practicing here for four days and it was facing no issue”.
The minister said that it was wrong for the opposition to put the blame of this postponement of tour either on the Ministry of Interior or him.
“Don’t throw stones at Sheikh Rashid or the Ministry of Interior while living in a glass house,” he warned the opposition. He said that the cabinet for the first time had approved provision of Pakistan Army security to the New Zealand team.
The minister said that the federal government wanted to resolve all issues with former Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz through dialogue to ensure normalcy in the capital.
There are several cases registered against Maulana Aziz but the government wanted that the situation in Islamabad should remain normal, the interior minister said while giving the reason why the local police don’t take strict action against the cleric who is also administrator of Jamia Hafsa, a women seminary located in Islamabad’s Sector G-7/3.
“That’s why we keep talking to them,” he said adding that Aziz had an issue every other day.
Addressing a weekly press conference here at the Ministry of Interior, the interior minister said that there were at least 511 madrassas and as many 1,000 mosques in the capital.
“Out of 511, we have issues with only one madrassa,” he said while referring to Jamia Hafsa. He said that the Islamabad Administration used to remain in talks with them to resolve the matter through talks.
Replying to a question, the minister warned that the law would take its course if someone tried to take its law into its hands.
Last week, the police had registered a case against Maulana Aziz, and other seminary students on charges of terrorism and sedition after flags representing the Afghan Taliban were found hoisting on the rooftop of Jamia Hafsa. Since August this year, this was the third time that Afghan Taliban flags were hoisted on the seminary.
Without naming any one, Sheikh Rashid said that the government had made such efforts with another religious organization in the past but it proved futile. He said that they wanted to resolve the matter with mutual consultation.
On the Afghanistan situation, Sheikh Rashid said that Pakistan has evacuated 16,000 people including diplomats, NATO troops and staff of international organizations from Afghanistan.
He said that PM Imran Khan has clearly stated during the SCO summit in Tajikistan that he would make full efforts and talk to the Taliban to form an inclusive government in Afghanistan.
He reiterated that Pakistan’s borders were safe and peaceful, and there was no tension over there. “We have no refugee camp (in Pakistan) and a propaganda is being made in this regard,” he again clarified.
He said India and others were making propaganda against Pakistan since last one month over their failures in Afghanistan. “India wants to put blame on Pakistan for the failure of its master plan” in the neighbouring country but we just want better relations with the rest of the world, he also said.
He questioned what is the problem with India when he used to visit borders?
Answering in the same breath, he said that he had been doing this only for peace and to boost morale of the troops.
The interior minister said cellular services in different parts will remain suspended to mark Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) on the request of provinces
He further said that the government has decided to deploy Pakistan Army, civil armed forces, and Rangers in provinces, according to their requirement, for the security of the Chehlum processions.
The interior minister said that an amnesty was being offered till October 30 to those Pakistanis who hold more than one passports or computerized national identity cards (CNICs). He said that such people can only retain one passport and CNIC and others would have to be withdrawn. He said that a summary in this regard is being sent to the cabinet for final approval.
He said that those foreigners who are overstaying in Pakistan even after their visas expired have also been given a deadline to leave the country by October 30.
The minister informed that local police have arrested killer of blogger Muhammad Bilal Khan who was killed in 2019 in Islamabad and the reason behind his murder was a sectarian issue and his killing had no link with his journalism. He said a propaganda had been made at that time that some agencies were behind his killing.