Servicemen found involved in smuggling to face court martial: Bugti

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Monday said Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Asim Munir had warned in unequivocal terms that the security personnel who were found involved in cross-border smuggling would face court martial and be incarcerated.

Addressing a news conference in the federal capital along with Interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, the interior minister maintained that he wanted to share the results derived from the measures taken during the past one month to curb smuggling.

Bugti said the government had taken stringent measures to control the smuggling of wheat, urea, sugar and petroleum products besides establishing different check posts with the assistance of the customs department, Frontier Corps and other institutions.
 

“As many as 1,068 FIRs have been lodged to curb [the business of] Hundi Hawala and dollar smuggling. A vigorous anti-narcotics campaign is also continuing and 242 cases have been registered [in this regard].”

He stressed that no one would be exempt from law. “Powerful elements involved in smuggling are also being stopped. No matter how influential a person is, there is no leniency for anyone.”

To a question, the interior minister stated: “It won’t be right to say that the security forces were not involved in smuggling as these [smuggled] items were transported via trucks and not on camels.”

On a recent meeting where he was also present, Bugti said the army chief had told “his people” that the security personnel who were found involved in cross-border smuggling would not only face court martial but also be imprisoned.

“The army chief has told his people very clearly that there won’t only be court-martials, but those who are involved in such activities will also be sent to jail,” he added.

The interior minister maintained that the accountability method within the army was not a public affair, hence it did not come to the people’s knowledge. However, he said the army’s accountability system was seen in the wake of the May 9 riots.

On the rising incidents of terrorism, Bugti said several apex committee meetings were being held to address the issue, vowing: “You will see changes in the days to come.”

His statement came in the wake of the recent deadly bombings in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

At least 60 people were killed after a suicide bomber struck a religious procession on 12th Rabiul Awwal in Mastung whereas four soldiers were martyred during an operation in Zhob.

In K-P’s Hangu, five people were killed in a bomb attack the same day after a mosque’s roof collapsed due to the impact of the blast.
“We have limited time and limited mandate and we want to fix things that are meant for a daily basis. I must say we do not have any softness for anyone irrespective of how influential they are,” he said.

To another question, Bugti said the latest incidents of terrorism were under investigation.

“RAW’s involvement had been found in incidents that occurred previously in Balochistan. The current bombing is being investigated and once done, we will share details about its executioners and facilitators.”

Read Govt cracks down on dollar smuggling

Lauding the security forces of the country, the minister observed that they had the capacity and courage to fight against “any kind of violence”.
“As a result of the security operations, the terrorists get worried and carry out more attacks. They try to put the state on backfoot by carrying out blasts which is their misunderstanding,” he said.

The minister vowed to continue fighting the terrorists until the last miscreant was rooted out from the country.

He emphasised that no one would be allowed to impose their agenda at gunpoint. He added that the recent attacks were not "unexpected" as Pakistan had become a "hardened state" and this "reaction was due".

On the holding of upcoming general elections, Bugti said a meeting was held with the Election Commission of Pakistan on Monday, adding that more moots would be held in the coming days.

“The government will turn to the state institutions if need for further security arises,” he added.

On PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif’s expected return to the country on Oct 21, the interior minister termed the move “encouraging”, clarifying that his statement about the former premier’s arrest on his arrival was misinterpreted by the PML-N.

Earlier in an interview, Bugti had said that Nawaz would be arrested on his return if he failed to get bail.