Tough talk: Govt ready to take on irreconcilable militants, says Nisar

Renewing talks offer, interior minister promises to meet responsive militants halfway.

ISLAMABAD:

Amidst a fresh upsurge in violence, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali said on Sunday that the government was ready to act against those militants who counter its dialogue offer with violence.

“We will wage war against those who respond to our talks offer with bullets – we will chase them down no matter where they are,” he told a news briefing at Punjab House. “The government will sincerely pursue talks with those who positively respond to its offer of dialogue,” he added.

He said that those calling for military action against these groups should elaborate on how and where they propose the launch of such an operation against militants. The use of force and negotiation with militants are nuanced options, he said, adding that “it’s a hard nut to crack to impose power through a military operation as well as to pursue dialogue”.



The minister was of the view that the proposed peace process, thrown off track after the killing of Tehreek-e-Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, was still on uncertain ground. He added that efforts were being made to engage religious leaders and security experts in the negotiation process.

“There will be no compromise on the dignity of the state and respect for the Constitution and laws in the process of dialogue,” he said, expressing surprise at demands for an operation against militants in the tribal areas as a response to police officer Chaudhry Aslam Khan’s killing in Karachi.

Nisar renewed the government’s offer of talks with militant groups, saying “this is the spirit of Islam”. “Our aim is to bring peace in Pakistan, particularly in Fata,” he said.  He reiterated that the government would take all steps to maintain peace in light of recommendations made by the all-party conference.

The Musharraf trial

The interior minister also said that former military ruler Pervez Musharraf was diagnosed with a heart problem in the nick of time as his motorcade reached Rawal Dam Chowk.

“I was the first one to be informed of the development and I informed the prime minister,” he said, adding that a senior police official and Musharraf’s personal security officer discussed four options at the time to obtain treatment for the former general - Poly Clinic Hospital Islamabad, Pakistan Institute for Medical Sciences, Al-Shifa International Institute and the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology.

The minister said the government had refused a request by Sehba Musharraf seeking the removal of her husband’s name from the Exit Control List. He added that the Saudi foreign minister, Saud al Faisal, discussed Musharraf’s trial in informal meetings only during his visit to Pakistan.

Verification of armed licences 

Chaudhry Nisar announced that the interior ministry will cancel all unregistered arms licences following a verification process. All licences, prohibited and non-prohibited, whose addresses are not confirmed or registered with the ministry will be cancelled, he reiterated.

NADRA Chairman

The interior minister said National Database & Registration Authority’s (NADRA) board members will appoint an acting chairman of the body on Wednesday. The new chairman will be appointed following due process by a 15-member board, he added. The audit of NADRA’s accounts will be conducted soon by the Auditor General of Pakistan. A committee will also access the procedure under which more than 8,000 employees were appointed in NADRA, he added.

Thumb impressions

NADRA’s special committee looking into the matter of voters’ thumb impressions will continue to work on the directions of election tribunals, the minister said. The government has already empowered this committee to work independently with the Election Commission of Pakistan, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2014.