Federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has said that two teams would shortly be sent to Guantanamo Bay and Afghanistan to help figure out the real number of Pakistani prisoners languishing in these prisons.
Addressing a Jirga of Kurram Agency that called on him here on Saturday, the minister said that a total of 29 Pakistani prisoners have been languishing in the Guantanamo Bay of whom eight are expected to be released shortly while efforts are being made for the return of the remaining 21.
Sherpao said that foreign office has been informed about the teams that would be sent to Afghanistan and the United States. He said that the government has taken serious view of the ICRC report that has disclosed higher number of Pakistani prisoners who are suffering in the Afghan jails and has decided to send a team for a thorough probe into the matter.
To a question, Aftab Sherpao said that Pakistan wants to see a developed and prosperous Afghanistan as it is vital for the stability of not only Pakistan but for the entire region. He strongly denied the charges by Afghan President Hamid Karzai blaming Pakistan for the spread of terrorism in his country.
The minister said that a total of $250 million has been allocated by the Pakistan government to expedite the process of rehabilitation in the war-ravaged Afghanistan.
He said that the government wants to see a peaceful Afghanistan so that the 2.6 million refugees presently living in Pakistan could be repatriated to their native country. He said the Afghan government should establish and strengthen its writ instead of playing the blame game. Sherpao said that Pakistan was in contact with the Afghan government and things would be sorted out through dialogue.
Referring to the tribal areas, he said the government is taking all possible measures for the development of these areas and the government has raised its funds to Rs 10 billion from Rs 4 billion for this purposes steps have been taken for setting up industrial zones in tribal areas besides provision of electricity and a network of metalled roads which would generate jobs.
The minister reiterated that the ongoing operations in the tribal areas are against the foreign terrorists, and rebuffed the impression that it was meant to target and kill local people on the directives of America. He said this impression was created by certain political parties for their vested interests and no government can target one's own civilian.
To a question, Aftab Sherpao said the government had given several chances to the foreigners to surrender and also announced general amnesty to them, adding the government struck two agreements with tribesmen which unfortunately were flopped.
He clarified that Jihad cannot be carried out against Muslim brothers, and said that a number of innocent civilians have been targeted in the country in the name of Jihad.
He said 47 people died in the Karachi bomb blast whereas similar attempts have been made against both the President and the Prime Minister.
He said Islam is a religion of peace, adding that the UN charter of Human Rights has been based on the last sermon of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He stressed that action would be taken against the elements who earned bad name for the entire Muslim community because of their evil deeds.