By Parliamentary Reporter ANI:
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry on Wednesday called for dialogue among political forces to ensure a stable, secure and prosperous Pakistan, saying the government’s doors were open for negotiations.
Addressing the National Assembly, he said Governor’s Rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be lifted after six months, while the emergency would be withdrawn once peace was established in the province.
The minister said the extraordinary measures had been taken in exceptional circumstances to restore law and order, stressing that Pakistan’s peace was linked to stability in KP. He urged political leaders to unite against terrorism and said cooperation between the provincial government, civil administration and security institutions was essential.
He stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had approved a grant of Rs160 billion during his visit to Peshawar to strengthen police capacity and support security operations in 12 districts. He said the targeted areas would be cleared of terrorists within four to six months and subsequently handed over to the police.
Tariq Fazal Chaudhry alleged that India and Afghanistan were among the countries supporting efforts to destabilise Pakistan. He said Pakistan had presented evidence of cross-border infiltration and terrorist training camps to the Afghan government through diplomatic channels, urging Kabul to eliminate terrorist safe havens and prevent infiltration.
He also called for visits to families affected by terrorism to understand their suffering and emphasised the need for a coordinated national policy against militancy.
Discussing mineral resources, the minister said natural resources belonged to the provinces concerned and urged them to develop their own economic potential rather than depend on the resources of other provinces.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining strong ties with the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including continued support regarding electricity tariffs and flour prices.
Concluding his address, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry urged political parties to sit together and work towards three shared objectives: a stable Pakistan, the elimination of terrorism and a strong economy leading to a secure and prosperous country.
