Better law and order situation will attract the foreign investors, which would help alleviate poverty, the root cause of all evils, said Advisor to Prime Minster on Interior A Rehman Malik on Thursday.
"Government is looking forward to create a peaceful and cordial atmosphere to bring investment for eradicating poverty, unemployment and other problems", he said while talking to newsmen after inaugurating the first bi-annual Saarc Police Chiefs' conference here.
"No violence will be tolerated and government is firm to deal with those creating law and order situation with an iron hand", he said. Malik said that a letter was being drafted by Law Ministry for requesting the United Nations to probe into the assassination of former premier and PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto.
"I have asked the investigation authorities to provide previous reports in this high profile political murder. I will see these reports and then decide about this issue", he said while responding to a question.
He said that terrorism was a major problem in Saarc countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India. All these regional countries were facing terrorism and only joint efforts will help eradicate this menace. First its root causes will be eliminated and the government will utilise all available resources against terrorism, he said.
He said that Benazir Bhutto, a great visionary leader of Pakistan was targeted by terrorists while fighting against this menace. PPP-led government will transform her dream into reality by eliminating terrorism, he vowed.
He dispelled the impression regarding the ban on public rallies saying government has not imposed any restriction on processions but it was made mandatory to take prior permission from the administration.
"Due to security reasons, the rallies and processions will be allowed at specific places, the law in this regard exists and we will reinforce it", he said. Earlier in his address to the conference, he called upon leadership of Saarc countries that they should give a roadmap to enhance the mutual cooperation for eradicating crimes like terrorism and human smuggling.
Saarc countries are facing a number of daunting challenges like terrorism, extremism, poverty, organised crimes, drug trafficking, human smuggling and money laundering as well as a host of other problems that have critical ramifications for law enforcement community, he said. He stressed the need of freeing the law enforcing from political influence to enforce laws in letter and spirit.
Pakistan, he said, will play a positive and constructive role in bringing people from different regions closer and making this region secure, peaceful and prosperous. Politico-social reforms, economic opportunities and selective use of force against the militants are going to be the main facets of our policy, he underlined.
He said that the government is reviewing various provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 to make it more effective, however, "we intend to certainly learn from experiences and legislation adopted against terrorism and other organised crimes by the Saarc countries.