Good governance can help curb militancy, says Punjab governor

Mahmood calls on collective response to eradicate threat; hails assassinated Bilour as a courageous person.

PESHAWAR:

In a rare moment of candour, Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmad Mahmood acknowledged on Saturday the strong presence of militants in southern Punjab and elsewhere in the country and touted good governance as the best way to defeat the menace.

The remarks came during the governor’s interaction with media following the offering of condolences to Bashir Ahmed Bilour’s family in Peshawar. Bilour, a senior Awami National Party (ANP) leader and senior minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), was killed in a suicide attack by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan on December 22, 2012, in Peshawar.

Flanked by ANP leaders, including Afrasiyab Khattak, Mian Iftikhar, Haroon Bilour and others, the Punjab governor said that “good governance is the solution to terrorism.” He added that there was no doubt about the active presence of militants in southern Punjab, but its roots were not relegated to that region only, as militancy was affecting the entire country.

“It is the issue of the whole country and needs collective response for its elimination,” Mahmood said.

Paying rich tributes to the late Bilour, the Punjab governor said that he was a courageous person who sacrificed his life for the sake of the country and the nation.

Responding to a question, Mahmood claimed that he was not going to retort to statements issued against him by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and his party.

Regarding the creation of Bahawalpur province, Mahmood said, “It is the absolute demand of the people. The demand of the people should be met soon,” he claimed.

Earlier, during his brief visit to Peshawar, Mahmood called on K-P Governor Barrister Masood Kausar at the Governor House. They spoke on matters of national interest and the well being of the people of Punjab and K-P.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2013.