A presidential warning: Mamnoon tells terrorists they have no place to hide

Says backbone of militants broken; attends FATA Youth Festival ceremony

PESHAWAR:

President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain warned terrorists on Wednesday they would have no place to hide if they failed to lay down their arms.

As he spoke to participants at the Fata Youth Festival’s closing ceremony, the president condemned the suicide attack on NADRA’s office in Mardan in the strongest of terms. Mamnoon said terrorist networks had been dismantled and militants were taking their last breaths. “Terrorists cannot deter our resolve as Pakistan Army will take [Operation] Zarb-e-Azb to its logical end,” he said.

The president directed the government and other institutions to help victims of terrorism and not abandon them in their hour of need. He told people to not fear terrorists any longer as the army would eliminate them and “winds of positive change would start blowing across the region”.



Mamnoon added terrorists had nothing to do with Islam and were instead fulfilling the enemy’s agenda. “No Muslim can kill an innocent person. In fact, terrorists are the ones who have gone astray and attack mosques and schools,” the president pointed out. He stressed the nation was united against them.

Festivities

Mamnoon congratulated people of the tribal areas for organising the youth festival. He added militants could never carry out their evil designs as playgrounds would remain open and full. “The time has come for our youth to take part in the development of the motherland,” he said.

Mamnoon believed sports plays a key role in the promotion of peace and protected the youth from falling into the wrong hands.

He expressed immense satisfaction upon seeing young smiling faces in the crowd and believed this was an indicator that peace was restored in Fata.

“Our youth are our future and we know how to protect them. We won’t let our enemies exploit them,” he vowed. The president said the government was redesigning the education system and curriculum to meet modern-day needs and this would be implemented throughout the country.

IDPs

The president lauded the sacrifices and resolve of tribespeople in the fight against terrorism and said their efforts would be immortalised in glorious terms in the history of Pakistan. He assured tribal elders their problems would be resolved.

Mamnoon said all hurdles standing in the way of displaced families and their repatriation would be removed and plans were afoot to make Fata part of the mainstream.

He said corruption during previous regimes adversely affected development and this was the reason no mega project could be launched in the energy and economic sectors.

“The present government has its focus on the energy sector, revival of the economy and mega projects to solve the energy shortfall and economic instability,” he said.

Mamnoon added reputed monetary institutions lauded the economic policies of the current government which showed the country was moving in the right direction.

He hoped the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor would benefit the entire nation. He also wished to see work on the western route of the project expedited after the laying of the foundation stone by the prime minister.

The president appreciated the sacrifices of security forces, police, political administrations and officials while defending the motherland.

Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan said the youth in the tribal areas was extremely talented and its active participation in the festival reflects dedication and commitment to serve the country. Condemning the Mardan suicide attack, the governor said killing innocent people reflected the evil mindset of terrorists.

Earlier, the president was received by Mehtab, MNAs, senators and tribal elders.

The festival started in Peshawar on December 23 where at least 1,785 athletes from seven tribal agencies and six Frontier Regions took part in 30 games during the week-long event.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2015.