Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said the government has made fool proof arrangements for the holding of free, fair and impartial elections to elect legislative assembly in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The government believes in democracy and has provided equal opportunities to all the political parties to run their election campaign in a peaceful atmosphere, Rehman Malik said in an interview with Radio Pakistan in Sunday night.
Replying a question the minister expressed satisfaction over the law and order situation in Gilgit-Baltistan and said that additional forces would be sent during the election process to ensure security there for peaceful polling. The Interior Minister said that the PPP led government has given internal and administrative independence to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, who gave sacrifices for annexation with Pakistan.
He said the PPP believes in empowering the people at gross root level and took the decision to give rights to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan according to the vision of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
He said it was the Peoples Government who first time brought reforms in the area during the tenure of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and again gave more rights to during the regime of Benazir Bhutto government. He said following the new system introduced in the area now the problems of the people would be resolved locally. He said the Governor and the Chief Minister of that area would represent them in the decision making process at the federal level.
Malik said that the local government of the area would be able to utilise its resources according to the own requirements and wishes of the people. He said this will not only improve the infrastructure in that area but would bring prosperity. He said the federal government is taking keen interest in the development of Gilgit-Baltistan and is providing resources to construct a network of roads linking the area with the rest of the country and with China.
The Minister said the government is planning to link Islamabad with Khunjarab through Karakaram highway by strengthening and widening it, which would help more economic activities in the area.
He said besides, the government is also planning to link China with Pakistan through Railway. He said more tourists spots will be developed in the area to attract the tourists. He said to create job opportunities, industrial zone would be set up in Gilgit-Baltistan for the speedy development of the area. He said it is also under consideration to soften the Custom duties and setting up a check post at the entry point from China to facilitate the trading community.
To a question the Minister said that sufficient security has been provided to Chinese experts who are working on various developmental projects in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He said the government is making all out efforts to maintain law and order in the area and also in the other parts of the country. When asked about the security situation in the country Rehman Malik said that the government is committed to eliminate terrorism and militancy from the country.
He said that the government has successfully flushed out the terrorists and militants from Swat and Malakand divisions and now is engaged to wipe out these elements from South Waziristan. He said the security forces are advancing in the agency ahead of their schedule to purge the area from the menace of terrorism. In this connection, he added that the security forces have achieved remarkable success in the area and the terrorists are on the run.
The Interior Minister said that after clearance the government is now engaged in the reconstruction of the Swat and Malakand divisions and the same would be exercised in the South Waziristan Agency.
He said the government has provided sufficient funds for the reconstruction process and also allocated funds for the capacity building of the security forces working there that they would be able to control any challenge. Replying a question about involvement of India in terrorists activities on our soil the minister said the matter would be raised with India through Foreign Office during talks between the two countries.
He said Pakistan wants to resolve all the issues with India through dialogue as the people of the two countries desire peace in the region. He said it is upto the leadership of both sides who could normalise the situation and would end the trust deficit.