ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Interior, Ahsan Iqbal, Thursday said the successful operation of security forces had weakened networks of terrorists who were on the run now.
Terrorism has been curtailed to a large extent in 2018 as compared to five years ago, and people are now seeing that peace has come to Pakistan, Ahsan Iqbal, who narrowly escaped assassination bid and got injured in Narowal gun attack, said while addressing the graduation parade of the second batch of Counterterrorism Force here at the Islamabad Police Line Headquarters.
On the occasion, Rescue-15 modern squad was also launched.
The minister attended the event as chief guest after the unfortunate incident of firing two weeks ago and thanked Allah Almighty for being alive. He also expressed his gratitude to friends, well wishers and people of Pakistan for remembering him in their prayers.
“We made the National Action Plan (NAP) and launched a full-fledged operation against terrorists in the country, which will continue till the complete annihilation of terrorists and extremists,” he said.
Iqbal lauded the role of the nation, Pakistan’s armed forces, police and other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in the country’s war against terrorism and said that besides sacrificing thousands of precious lives, the country’s economy had also suffered big losses.
“Peace is as important for development as oxygen is necessary for human life,” he said and added that societies with instability and insurgency could not keep pace with progress.
For many years, the country had become weak economically and plunged into darkness. Besides, investors were not investing in Pakistan due to the disturbed security situation and weaker economic policies, said the minister.
He maintained that the police were not only doing their own duty but also playing a vital role in the country’s development. Iqbal added it was because of them that citizens could sleep without any fear.
Congratulating the CTF on completion of its training, the minister said he was pleased that women had also become part of the force. Women, he added, were also playing an active role in fighting terrorism.
Iqbal said the CTF would increase the specializations, skills and professionalism of the police. The police acted as a frontline force against terrorism, he added.
He said an anti-riot police force had also been formed to maintain law and order in Islamabad for which allocation had been made in next year’s budget.
Iqbal was of the view that it was an age of innovation where changes took place frequently, and “we need to develop ourselves as per the requirements of the world because the nature of today’s challenges is global and challenges have no boundaries.”
Earlier, Islamabad’s Inspector General Police (IGP), Sultan Azam Temuri, said an action plan was being prepared to improve the performance of police within minimum time.
He said that out of the total 970 personnel of CTF, the first batch of 380 had already graduated and today another batch of 291 was passing out.
The IGP said 34 vehicles had been arranged for the CTF and its building is almost completed. Four smart cars of Rescue-15 had also been arranged and would be linked with safe city project.
Ahsan Iqbal witnessed the parade. The CTF logo was also awarded to the minister.
