‘I would have eradicated terrorism within 90 days’

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has claimed that if he was the prime minister of Pakistan, the issue of terrorism would have been resolved within 90 days.

Talking to the media during his visit to Data Darbar on Sunday, he said that Pakistan is paying the price for fighting a proxy war for America, adding that some conspiring elements were promoting sectarian differences in the country to achieve their nefarious designs.

Responding to a question, Khan said that the people were being deceived by statements after every terrorism incidents that militant networks were being crushed. In reality, he said, the situation was much different as compared to the claims of the government, adding that nearly 30 terrorists groups were functioning in the country.

The PTI chairman claimed that if he were the prime minister, the problems of terrorism could have been resolved within three months. He went on to say that the ratio of blasts has increased, whereas there were no suicide attacks in the country before 2004.

“Last year there were 500 blasts in Pakistan and this year the frequency is even greater,” he said. Khan further said that military operation could not eradicate the scourge of terrorism from the country therefore dialogue with militants is the only solution.

“Through negotiation with [militant] groups, we should be able to differentiate between home grown terrorists and those who are fighting due to the American war,” he said.

The PTI Chairman said that only a small group of ruling elite were profiting from the aid and loans. He said that security should be provided to Pakistani people and not political families.

He also hinted that the attack on Data Darbar is the outcome of security failure and the Punjab government has failed. Online (additional input from News desk)

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2010.