Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has said the law-enforcement agencies have arrested all high profile criminals linked to Allama Hassan Turabi murder case.
Talking to newsmen at the 28th passing out parade of the Pakistan Coast Guards (PCG) here on Tuesday, the minister said the names of detained people could not be revealed now because of security reason. He, however, clarified that the suicide attacker of Allama Turabi was a Burmese national and was living in Pakistan as an immigrant.
The bomber had obtained Pakistan national identity card and had small business here for many years, he added. Sherpao said President Pervez Musharraf had several times indicated that the real threat the country facing today was from extremism and enemies of Pakistan, who would benefit from these weaknesses if we failed to arrest these tendencies.
He said the government was committed to eliminate terrorism and extremism because both were inter-linked. He rejected any threat of terrorism on the Independence Day, and said the law-enforcement agencies were well prepared and committed to thwart such nefarious designs.
He praised the jawans of the Coast Guards, and said due to their efforts the country was able to control human trafficking and the United States removed Pakistan's name from watch list of countries, which had been involved in human trafficking.
The minister said the PCG would get latest equipment, including small and large boats and interceptors by September, while 500 more jawans would be recruited in the PCG to deal with anti-state activities in an effective manner.
He announced that Rs 30 million had been approved for the construction of PCG family quarters, while three million rupees, out of Rs 8.7 million had also been sanctioned for other development programmes.
The minister also approved equal hard area allowance of 40 percent of the salary to the PCG one battalion posted at Makran coast.
He appreciated the performance of the PCG, who seized about 8,500 kilograms of narcotics, 26,512 bottles of liquor and also arrested 30 criminals. Around 1,108 people were arrested along Pak-Iran border on charges of human trafficking, he added.
He lauded the role of the PCG in the quake relief work, which collected relief from Karachi, Hub, Uthal, Pasni, Gwadar and Makran. They also set up tent village at Balakot. PCG Director General Brigadier Farzoq Attaullah said the troops had stepped up efforts to curtail the drug smuggling, particularly form Afghanistan, where poppy crop was increasing.
He said the PCG monitoring 960-kilometre coastal area of the country with only 65 percent of its authorised strength. He said that illegal immigration was also curtailed after setting up of two check posts at Karachi and Korangi Fish Harbours.
Earlier, the minister gave away medals to best performing recruits of the PCG, including Shah Ayaz, Muhammad Ikram, Sayar Muhammad, Amir Hussain, Tahir Manzoor, Muhammad Azad and Zakaullah Nadeem.
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