Mohmand executions: Rashid questions decapitation of FC troops by TTP

Under which Sharia law were paramilitary soldiers killed, asks minister.

RAWALPINDI:

Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid has asked the Taliban, who are calling for the imposition of Islamic Sharia in the country, that under which law they killed 23 paramilitary troops.

Talking to the media after attending an event ‘Aik Sham Teen Mahman’, the minister referred to three wars between Pakistan and India and said that 90,000 Pakistani troops were taken prisoners in the 1971 war – but nobody cut off their heads.

He said Indian prisoners in Pakistan’s custody were taken care of according to the Geneva Convention. If violent attacks continue to take place, the whole nation will feel the grief, he added.

Rashid said the PML-N government has the desire to achieve peace without further bloodshed and a four-member negotiating committee was constituted for this purpose. The formation of the peace committee by the prime minister reflected his sincerity and desire to secure peace and end violence in the country.

“When the two committees give their reports, then the government will decide about its future course of action,” he added.

The minister said that if the Taliban had any complaints, then their committee should have conveyed it to the government committee but they did not do so. During the talks between the two committees, attacks did take place in Karachi and news received about the execution of Frontier Corps personnel in Mohmand Agency, he added.

Rashid said national institutions were strong enough to tackle any situation and no one should underestimate country’s defence capabilities. “National institutions are capable enough to tackle any difficult situation and national security agencies are competent to meet any security challenge confronting the country.”

The minister said whenever a contingent is formed in the world for peacekeeping, Pakistani troops are included in it.

Replying to a question, the Minister said Pervez Musharraf’s treason case will be decided by the court as there is rule of law in the country.

To another question, he said nobody in the public sector will lose his job. “We are in contact with all political parties on national issues, on which we stay above politics.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2014.