Pakistan

De-radicalisation: Nawaz approves construction of brigade level cantonment in Swat

Prime Minister commends army for restoring peace and rebuilding infrastructure in Swat.

APP January 15, 2014

prime minister addressing the audience at wadudia hall during the launch of pm 039 s youth programme in malakand photo pid

Prime Minister addressing the audience at Wadudia Hall, during the launch of PM's Youth Programme in Malakand. PHOTO: PID

SWAT: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday paid a visit to the de-radicalisation center at Sabawoon in Mingora, Swat. Lauding the role of Pakistan Army in bringing peace and stability to the area, he approved in principle the construction of a cantonment in the city.

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Bajwa tweeted that the prime minister had "acknowledged the army's efforts in bringing peace" and "approved a brigade-sized cantt for Swat".

The de-radicalisation centre is rehabilitating the youth of the affected areas of Swat. According to Maj-Gen Bajwa, over 2, 200 youth have been reintegrated into the society till now.

Nawaz commended the armed forces for restoring peace in the area and completing the reconstruction of schools, hospitals, roads and bridges in collaboration with the civic administration and the people. He said their services would be remembered for long.

The prime minister said that the government was striving to free Pakistan from extremism and that he was aware of the unemployment and economic deprivation in different parts of the country. He said these problems were being addressed through striving toward a more uniform distribution of national resources in these parts of the country.

Nawaz hoped that the de-radicalisation initiative could be replicated in other parts of the country.

"I wish that this programme is extended to other parts of the country as well, where the youth has adopted such path and needs attention. They should be made healthy members of the society through constructive engagement."

"They are not enemies of Pakistan but have lost their direction," he added.

Youth Business Loan Scheme

The Prime Minister also addressed applicants of the Youth Business Loan Scheme at Swat. He said he supported a population-based division of resources for an equitable distribution.

He said the people of Swat, Malakand and adjoining areas have suffered a lot during the past few years and unfortunately couldn’t get ample opportunities for development.

“The people of Swat are most deserving for this scheme”, he said.

The Prime Minister further said that there are no political considerations of this scheme.

“I am the Prime Minister of Pakistan and it is my responsibility to serve people of all provinces without any differentiation”, said the Prime Minister.

He added that the award of loan is purely based on merit and nepotism or favouritism will not be afforded at any cost.

“Banks never entertained our youth who wanted to stand on their feet, and only catered for the powerful elite. Through this scheme we have opened the previously closed bank doors for our youth, which is a first example of its kind”, said the Prime Minister.

He advised the applicants to utilise this opportunity not only for their own benefit but also for the collective benefit of the Pakistani nation.

COMMENTS (13)

Achaa Bachaa | 10 years ago | Reply

Another Cantt. O God Now Swatis just be ready to be treated like stranger in your own land.Also be prepared to apply for visa (cantt sticker) otherwise you won't be welcomed there. The top cadre of army are more like real estate agent interested in grabbing lands.Please can any informed man/woman give me example of any other army with so much real estate in prime locations.

Cool Henry | 10 years ago | Reply

If actions will not result in Indian goods, traffic and tourists in Swat, then they are fraud. If Nawaz Sharif is serious about peace, then he should take actions that will make Indian tourists feel comfortable enjoying the beauty of Swat.

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Rex Minor | 10 years ago | Reply

@Umer

The land with precious stones and minerals. KPK parliament should withdraw the authority they previuos gave to Parvez M for army intervention in the first place. Pakistan army is fully trained to protect and operate from cantonments as the Brits did in colonial times. It has not the ability to protect Pakistan borders.Both Sharif and Imran are from the same wood, controlled by the Army.

Rex Minor :

Trotsky | 10 years ago | Reply @Raj - USA: Which is why i said that the state apparatus, i.e people from the army (our deep state) should pursue a militant secular course for the country. Th foreign and security policy of this country is run by the army not the politicians. I dont have any hope from any of the political parties regarding secularising this country, but then again it was the army that got us in this mess to begin with.

Millat | 10 years ago | Reply Bravo Nawaz Sharif

Zif | 10 years ago | Reply PM keeps on announcing, when will he start implementing on ground these schemes. Too much talk, too little action is putting us off!

Raj - USA | 10 years ago | Reply @Trotsky: "De-radicalisation can only occur in Pakistan once the retrogressive and vice-like grip that religion has on the people of this country is completely shattered." How can you do that when most political parties carry "Muslim" or "Islam" in their names. Even Musharraf could not resist. In this respect PTI and PPP are better and did not tag along Muslim or Islam to their names. MQM realized the flaws of being seen as a party representing the interests of one community only and changed the name of their party. When a major political party says clearly in its name that it represents only muslims of Pakistan, sooner or later, it will start to represent only some sects of Islam and not all Pakistanis or all sects of Islam.

Umer | 10 years ago | Reply So it was just a land grabbing operation by the establishment by first setting up and supporting Fazlullah to create mayhem and scare the people of Swat and then using him as an excuse and take over Pakhtoon land in the name of security.

Yousaf | 10 years ago | Reply

How about we first investigate the extra-judicial killings and disappearances that took place in swat (suspected to have been committed by the army) before we give them a permanent presence there?

Trotsky | 10 years ago | Reply De-radicalisation can only occur in Pakistan once the retrogressive and vice-like grip that religion has on the people of this country is completely shattered. Unless the state apparatus implements a vigorous and militant programme of promoting secular thinking and science, this country will drown in its own juice of bigotry and fanaticism.

Khan | 10 years ago | Reply Nothing wrong with building cantonment. But if the people of the land, grabbed for cantonment, are not happy with acquisition and cantonment is destroying their livelyhood, their orchards and their way of living than its better not to proceed with such destruction. People of the land should be happy only then de-radicalization will be successful. Recently, an article claimed that people welcome ARMY but the proposed cantonment location is not welcomed.......Pakistan should build cantonment in area away from cities, most probably barron area where people have little access, for Military security as well as for civilian security.

Nadir | 10 years ago | Reply Where is this cantonment going to be made? Already there is so much controversy regarding land forcibly taken over by the military with some disagreements being taken to the SC.

Nikki | 10 years ago | Reply Mr. Prime minister this is positive step,but to eliminating radicalization your administration needs to take revolutionary steps.In fact, we need di-talibanization from whole FATA,and Pakistan.

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