Pakistan

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

Interior minister urges provincial administrations to not shut down educational institutions

News Desk January 28, 2016

Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan addressing a presser in Islamabad on January 28, 2016. PHOTO: PID

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.

Tackling terrorism: Unfair to ignore NAP successes, says Nisar

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.”

Fighting terror: NAP has nation’s backing, says Nisar

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.”

COMMENTS (21)

Shahid Akram | 8 years ago | Reply yery sad. Instead of giving people security they are closing schools. What they will do next ? Close hospitals ?

Jamal | 8 years ago | Reply His family is US national and his kids have studied in the US. As he is not sending his kids to local schools, he doesn't care whether the schools are threatened or not. The presser was a proof his incompetency and his lack of coordination with other departments of the government.

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Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply This man cuts a sorry figure.

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply @S.R.H. Hashmi: Chaudhry Nisar basically specializes in making ‘bold’ statements, producing wonderful statistics and announcing future plans, but is almost a total failure when it comes to actual performance. I guess if you were to write to him direct he may appoint you the Sherif of the entire police force? Rex Minor

NHA | 8 years ago | Reply What TTp and other violent entities are doing can not even be defined as ' terrorism' , which is for some purpose. It is naked and complete criminality. No credible definition applies in their case. These entities have been infiltrated by enemy agents who have almost taken over thier operations. Solid public support & overwhelming force is a solution.

S.R.H. Hashmi | 8 years ago | Reply The Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who shudders at the suggestion of taking action against Mauala Abdul Aziz and the likes, and offers various excuses for not doing the needful, is hardly the one qualified to suggest to people not to fear the terrorist threats, despite apparent capacity of the terrorists to strike at will. And Peoples Party leaders and other are not criticizing Nation Action Plan but are criticizing government’s failure to implement the civilian side of the National Action Plan, which was primarily Chaudhry Nisar’s responsibility. The military has done a satisfactory job by uprooting the deeply entrenched terrorists in the tribal areas, killing hundreds of them and forcing the rest to flee across the border to Afghanistan or relocate to different cities in Pakistan. However, they still manage to launch attacks from across the border or even from within the country. And while our military can not cross the border and attack them in their safe havens, even their attacks are made possible only with local collaboration, meaning their facilitators, including banned outfits which often join hands with them to launch attacks. And yet no serious action has been taken against these banned outfits, for which Chaudhry Nisar bears the major blame. Chaudhry Nisar basically specializes in making ‘bold’ statements, producing wonderful statistics and announcing future plans, but is almost a total failure when it comes to actual performance. One exception is of course Karachi where, joining hands with Sindh Rangers, he is chasing Peoples Party, MQM and Dr. Asim Hussain – who are not offering physical resistance – to the neglect of far more serious problems elsewhere in the country. And surprisingly, no one among the top leadership seems to be too concerned about it, and in fact seem to be enjoying the show. Karachi

Muslim First | 8 years ago | Reply @Acorn Guts: Just because you think that they are not attacking non-Muslims doesnt make them cowards. Qasim is hero so they are too.

Disgusting | 8 years ago | Reply It is sickening to see him speak. Perhaps he is not permitted to talk at home or he lives alone! But we are suffering.

TN | 8 years ago | Reply Better to be safe than sorry! Minister sahib move around without security, if you want to prove that all is well. Actually all VIPs should DON the police escorts. Let the police do what they are suppose to do -- protect us against criminals!

Old Ravian | 8 years ago | Reply Chaudry Nisar.............. hello there !, where have you been??!!

kamran Ahmad Kami | 8 years ago | Reply what a nation we are...!!! If someone give us threat, we close our home doors and sit at home. Ridiculous

Bunny Rabbit | 8 years ago | Reply God he is soooo right.

Someone | 8 years ago | Reply I Agree . open schools increase security & train your guards & teachers . The Terrorists want schools to be shut down they are winning bring in the ARMY

Marl Brando | 8 years ago | Reply Okay, we won't shut them down if you can guarantee there will not be another attack under your watch.

Very very Sad. | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan has been a dysfunctional state for a long period of time. Our values, our priorities, our policies, have been the prime reason for becoming dysfunctional. The 1971 war in East Pakistan is one reason, secondly, since 1948 Pakistan has been sending Mujaheddin to Kashmir, thirdly since 1980's Pakistan has been training, arming, sheltering, the Taliban. The money the resources, spent on these adventures has cost the nation in a way, that we have been reduced to the level that we find ourselves to-day, i.e. we cannot even open our schools, we are so scared of our own fellow citizens. Is that not disgraceful. If the money spent on all these wars and proxy wars that we indulge in with different names at different times, been spent on education, on human resource development, on health, on providing useful employment, Pakistan would have been a different country. But our leaders are so very myopic, they simply cannot think straight, and that too for 68 long years. Sad, very very sad.

Azi | 8 years ago | Reply All these politicians hide in their palaces, only show face to public with bulletproof glasses all around, have their kids outside the country. They ask one thing of Pakistani people, just one thing, votes. And you know what? People give them votes even after everything they do to hurt the people.

Asim | 8 years ago | Reply And let them die, so that you can attend their funeral and announce 5 lac rupees and have photo session and leave. Such an idiot this man is. Feel sorry for Pakistan

Acorn Guts | 8 years ago | Reply How do you protect thousands of schools from these pea-brained cowards when you know that even if you somehow had every school protected that they will not hesitate to switch and target a hospital, park, restaurant or other public place. The Govt. is facing a massive challenge with very limited resources & support. I for one commend their efforts and believe that they've been doing whatever they can .. they just need our support and trust.

rex minor | 8 years ago | Reply Stop areal bombing campaign in tribal territory which is causing death and destruction amongst the civilian folks. There is no military solution nor can one win from tit for tat policy. Rex minor

Faisal Ahmad Jafri | 8 years ago | Reply It's indeed a pleasure to see even opponents praising KP govt's efforts. Change is palpable.

Dija | 8 years ago | Reply Sir, would you send your own child under such a fear?...I assume your kids would be studying abroad; so its easy for you to say!...the need of the hour is to take SOLID steps, I see old unhealthy policemen with old guns for surveillance on roads, I observe ill equipped and old security guards inducted in schools..FOR GOD SAKE sincerely take steps to assist this Nation to come out of this mess; I heard that security guards are being trained at the Police Line; did you observe how old and fragile those people were; what kind of out dated guns they had...stop fooling the innocent citizens...you would be answerable to Allah; remember this!...we need sincere actions in place...not an eye wash to fool people please!!!!

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