'Hafiz Saeed's arrest works in Pakistan's interest'

Interior minister says there is no place for jihadi organisations in the country


Our Correspondent July 18, 2019
No place for jihadi organisations in the country, says interior minister. PHOTO: INP

KARACHI: Federal Interior Minister Brigadier (R) Ijaz Shah has defended the arrest of proscribed Jamaat-ud-Dawa's chief, Hafiz Saeed, saying that it works in Pakistan's interest and does little to benefit the United States of America. Shah said this during a press conference held at the Sindh Governor House on Thursday.

He linked Saeed's arrest to Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan's statement that peace and security in the country will be maintained at all costs, and said that there is no place for jihadi organisations in Pakistan.

Shah also disregarded the criticism made over the arrest of political leaders, claiming that Zardari himself had said that such occurrences are a norm in politics. He also negated that government had ordered the arrest of political leaders and said that arrest warrants are issued by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and not the federal government. Speaking with reference to the arrest of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, he particularly emphasised that PM doesn't meddle in NAB's affairs.

Government will ensure that all those found involved in corruption are exposed and punished and none of them will be spared, said Shah.
The federal minister also claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf ministers were removed from their positions not because they were involved in corruption but due to their poor performance.
Reacting to the allegations of his involvement in Benazir Bhutto's assassination, he questioned that why any action wasn't taken against him during Zardari's five-year term as the president.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, who was also present in the press conference, said that the interior minister is visiting Karachi on PM's directives. The minister held a meeting to discuss the peace and security situation of Sindh and was briefed by Sindh police officials in this regard during his visit, he added.

Speaking about the rising crime rate in Karachi, the governor said that in the past, human death rate was a big issue in Karachi, which has now been replaced by mobile phone and motorcycle snatching.

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