Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani has deplored the suicide attacks in Miranshah and Dera Ismail Khan, saying that the situation demanded of the government and the opposition to jointly devise a national strategy against terrorism and extremism, avoiding any confrontation.
"After attacks against the security forces, the terrorists now are targeting the innocent civilians and this development is very alarming," the minister said while talking to the media here Monday.
"The terrorist incidents in Matta and Swat also targeted the innocent civilians and this situation is dreadful and demands a well-conceived and a well-worked out national strategy jointly devised by all the political forces, media, intellectuals and people from all walks of life," he said. The minister said that the entire nation should strongly raise its voice against terrorism and extremism as joint efforts against the recent terror is the need of hour.
Elaborating his viewpoint, he said that the anti-Pakistan forces could try to use this situation for ulterior motives. The entire nation should rise to the challenge and foil the nefarious designs of the terrorists and extremist elements, he stressed.
"A national strategy is needed to meet the challenge. The government is making efforts to keep the media, intellectuals and political forces informed about the developments," he said and added that as the elections were nearing, the opposition and the government should work in tandem to meet the threat posed by the terrorists.
The minister said that terrorism hinders the political activity and the situation demands joint efforts of the opposition and the government to strengthen the political process in the country. To a question regarding the resignation of MMA President Qazi Hussain Ahmed from the parliament, the minister said that any hasty or emotional act was not the answer to this situation.
"Rather, this is the time to strengthen the political forums. The politicians should play their part in strengthening the political institutions as terrorism is an offshoot of anti-democratic mindset."
Answering a query about the London APC, he said that the government had predicted that the moot would be a total failure. "I had already predicted that the London moot of the opposition parties would bring nothing for the nation. This was not an APC, rather this was a meeting of some opposition parties which had no agenda or elaborate objectives. The opposition should remain in Pakistan and play their positive role in the national affairs," he said.
To a question regarding Benazir Bhutto's support to the government over Lal Masjid operation, the Minister said that the politicians have to consider the public sentiments over certain issues and same PPP support reflected this.
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