We are giving in to terrorists by shutting down schools: Chaudhry Nisar

Interior minister urges provincial administrations to not shut down educational institutions

Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Thursday urged all provincial governments not to shutdown schools over fear of terrorist attacks as he compared the closure of educational institutions with bowing down to terrorism.

“We are in the state of war and wars are not only fought with bullets. The psychological side to a war is also extremely important and we have an upper hand to this psychological war,” Nisar told a press conference in Islamabad on Thursday.



Apparently censuring the leadership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the interior minister said, “Those who are criticising the National Action Plan and trying to create a situation of fear among the masses are working for terrorists.”

“People who are criticising the NAP are the ones who kept sleeping during their tenure and did not to root out terrorism from the country. Those who did not even read the NAP documents are giving their analysis on it,” Nisar claimed.

Further, Nisar said some people start creating panic and fear as soon as a terror incident occurs. “We have made remarkable achievement in the war against terror. We have broken the back of terrorists who are on the run and carrying out small terror incidents.”

He said those inducing hopelessness among the masses are working for terrorists as they are doing the same thing terrorists want us to do. “Terror activities have gradually reduced because of the implementation of NAP and we do not need to be afraid of terrorism rather we should fight it bravely.”

The minister pointed out that the PPP leadership was needlessly criticising the NAP because of the action being taken against Dr Asim in corruption cases. “If anyone has anything to say regarding Dr Asim’s case they should contact me instead of spreading rumours regarding NAP.”



During the presser, Nisar claimed that he was advised by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhry to shut down the schools of Islamabad, saying he refused to do so and told him that we would fight the terrorists.

Meanwhile, the minister lauded the efforts of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government against terrorism. “The government of K-P has taken appreciable steps against dealing with terrorism and their decision of not to close schools over terror threats is commendable,” he said.

In response to a question, Nisar said he will bring facts regarding Maulana Abdul Aziz to light. “The government has a clear policy on curbing militancy. There are no good or bad militants.”