Strategy approved to combat extremism in tribal areas: Prime Minister updates Cabinet on relief efforts

The Cabinet, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, on Wednesday approved a new strategy to combat extremism and militancy in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA), Provincially Administrated Tribal Areas (PATA) and the adjoining districts of NWFP.
Director-General, Military Operations, and NWFP Chief Secretary separately briefed the Cabinet on the current happenings in the tribal areas and other parts of NWFP, and suggested measures to crush the militants who are not only playing with the lives of innocent people and damaging public property but also earning bad name for the country.
The Chief Secretary gave the reasons for the unfortunate violent incidents which took place during 2007 in some parts of the province and the measures taken to minimise such happenings in future.
He also apprised the Cabinet about political and reconciliatory efforts being made in some parts of FATA to help resolve the security problems. After the meeting, Minister for Information Muhammad Ali Durrani told a press conference that there was no major breakthrough in the talks with the Lal Masjid defiant clerics initiated by Fazlur Rehman, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly.
Asked about relaxation in curfew timings, he said that he could not say anything, as this was to be decided by those who are spearheading the Lal Masjid operation. He said that the Cabinet had decided to facilitate all those who want to detach themselves from the whole process of militancy resorted to by the two brother clerics. But he made it clear that no compromise would be made with Abdul Aziz or Rashid Ghazi and they would have to face the cases filed against them.
Addressing the Cabinet the Prime Minister said that the miscreants in any part of the country would not be allowed to make people hostage of their nefarious designs. He said that the government had made every possible effort to resolve the issue through dialogue and mutual understanding.
"Political leaders, Ministers, ulema and even the Imam of Kaaba played their due role to get the issue resolved, but the government's sincere efforts to resolve the matter through negotiations were misconstrued as its weakness," the Prime Minister said.
He said that delay in action on the part of the government was aimed at minimising collateral loss of life and property and to accord safe return to the women and children made hostage by the extremist 'administration' of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa.
The Prime Minister appreciated the role of the law enforcement agencies and said that high sense of restraint, tolerance and commitment to duty displayed by government agencies against all sorts of provocation helped in minimising loss. Updating the Cabinet on relief efforts in the cyclone/flood-affected areas of Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP, the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the relief operations, and appreciated the assistance extended by the Armed Forces to the provincial and local authorities.
The Federal government, he said, was facilitating and co-ordinating the relief efforts through NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) and would continue to extend every possible support for early settlement of the affectees.
NDMA Chairman Lieutenant General Muhammad Farooq also briefed the Cabinet on the role of the Authority in the face of any disaster. He gave a presentation on details of damage during recent cyclones and floods in Sindh, Balochistan and NWFP.
He apprised the Cabinet about relief operations, restoration of infrastructure, communication and interaction with the diplomatic corps. He briefly touched upon the assessment of damage and future reconstruction and rehabilitation phase.
The members of the Cabinet took active part in discussion and gave a number of proposals regarding the Lal Masjid situation, law and order in NWFP, and the relief operation in flood affected areas.
However, an official told Business Recorder that there was clear division in the Cabinet over the operation in Lal Masjid, arguing that this action would have negative impact on PML vote bank. According to sources, most of the Cabinet members were not aware about government's action plan of action against Lal Masjid.