Army has broken back of terrorists: Zardari

Stresses need to equip police with latest anti-terror technology.

KARACHI:

Former president Asif Ali Zardari has stressed equipping security forces with modern technology as Pakistan’s enemies are using innovative methods to hurt the country.

He said this on Monday while addressing the 25th passing-out parade of police commandos at the Razzaqabad Police Training Centre in Karachi on Monday.

Zardari, who leads the Pakistan Peoples Party, also congratulated the Pakistan Army on the first anniversary of Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

“Our armed forces have made unprecedented achievements. They have broken the back of terrorists,” he said, saluting the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism for a peaceful future of the nation.



Around 2,083 corps of Sindh police completed their training and would now be deployed with different forces. Around 1,000 personnel will join the counter-terrorism department, 300 will join the Muhafiz Force, 250 will be deputed with the Rapid Response Force (RRF), 222 with the Special Services Unit while 254 will remain with their parent units all over Sindh.

Speaking as chief guest, Zardari directed the Sindh government to provide appointment letters to the children of martyred cops in advance along with education and salaries for the post of their martyred parents until they mature to join police on the same post. “The children of martyred police officers and constables are my children, I will not leave them alone as orphans,” he added.

The former president said the government would continue to equip and strengthen the force, enabling it to not only eliminate terrorism, but also to protect the future generations.

The PPP co-chairman was flanked by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal and Senator Sherry Rehman at the ceremony.

He directed the Sindh police chief to prepare a comprehensive plan to build residential schemes and education facilities for the serving and retired cops on the pattern of other forces.

He added the government would soon provide better training, latest weapons, gadgets, armoured personnel carriers and bulletproof vehicles to the police as per their requirements.

The Sindh chief minister said the government had reserved Rs10 billion for police in the next budget to purchase more policing equipment.

Later, the participants of the passing-out parade demonstrated their skills on countering terrorists. The drills were followed by an awards distribution ceremony.


Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2015.