ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday said Pakistan was committed to partner with its neighbours and the international community to defeat terrorism and keep peace in the region.
Talking to media persons in Islamabad after a visit of a mega National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Centre in Blue Area, he said Pakistan had offered more sacrifices than any other country in the war against terrorism.
To a question about latest statements of the United States President Donald Trump, the minister said terrorism could not be ended by pointing fingers at each other.
“In the last four years, we have achieved unprecedented successes to defeat terrorism. Our commitment against terrorism is not to make anybody happy or annoyed,” he said.
“We believe in peace and in coordination with international community and our neighbours we have continued and will continue our efforts to fight terrorism.”
The minister said Pakistan needed cooperation for stopping terrorism, adding the allegation that Pakistan gave refuge to terrorists was wrong. He stressed more cooperation was needed to defeat terrorism in the world.
“Terrorism is not a problem for a single country but it has afflicted every country,” he said.
“According to vision of Quaid e Azam, we are against hate on the basis of race, creed and religion,” he remarked. “We want prosperous future for Pakistan and for that we do not want only internal peace but peace in the region and the world.”
“Countries in the region have to work together for peace in Afghanistan.”
To a question about Pervez Musharraf, he said “if a prime minister can be punished, then the person who abrogated the constitution should also be punished.”
Ahsan Iqbal said action should have been taken against those who had broken the Constitution and law of the country.
“We do not want to do injustice with anybody but everybody was equal irrespective of whether he was president and prime minister or if he was the one who abrogated the Constitution of Pakistan,” he said.
The interior minister said NADRA had a critical role in next elections, adding effective steps had been taken to stop issuance of fake identity cards.
To a question about a case of alleged harassment in NADRA, he said that the policy was to give protection to all employees.
The minister said NADRA had become a legendary and world class institution, and it was set up by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government in 1998 under its Vision 2010. He said more facilities would be provided so that citizens could easily acquire passport and identity cards and customer feedback system would be improved.
Ahsan Iqbal said he had instructed to setup more NADRA offices, adding 70 more mobile vans of NADRA would be made available to facilitate citizens. He said NADRA would soon start an online visa system.
Earlier, officials gave a comprehensive briefing to the minister about the working of NADRA.
