ISLAMABAD_Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Monday warned terrorist groups in the country to make an “unconditional surrender”, saying the State would not negotiate with them.

“The State will not show any leniency towards the terrorists who committed violence and killed innocent citizens,” he said in an interaction with the families of martyrs here at the Interior Ministry, where he earlier launched the country’s new visa policy.

PM Kakar categorically said that no person would be allowed to take the law into his hands, adding that only the State had the legitimate right to use armed power through its security forces.

“No one should have any doubt about the stance of the State against terrorists,” he said. “All organs of the State have the clarity to remain persistent against militancy.” He said any damage incurred in the past by giving a lenient space to the militants would be mitigated. The prime minister said if someone wanted to denounce terrorism must seek forgiveness from the families of the martyrs, who had paid the ultimate price.

“We cannot compensate those who lost their loved ones, but can make a gesture to acknowledge and honour their invaluable sacrifices,” he added. PM Kakar said the reward for the martyrs’ souls rested with Allah Almighty, however, it was the responsibility of the society to honour them with a distinguished status.

“I pay tribute to all the martyrs – an unending list of heroes from all segments of the society, including police, politicians, journalists, soldiers, and even children,” he said. Earlier, at the launch of the new visa policy, the prime minister congratulated the Ministry of Interior on the achievement of a “good milestone”. He said the country needed to further rationalize its visa policy with the target of attracting investment.

“Unless we open up to the world, we cannot attract investment and develop connectivity,” he said, adding that a country’s visa policy was the cornerstone of its economic roadmap. The minister was briefed that the new visa policy includes the introduction of investor visas and the revision of the existing business visa category. The investor visa has been introduced in line with the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) initiative. The hassle-free process allows visa approval within 24 hours with a short-term (1-3 years) and long-term entry visa (5 years).

The process requires minimal documentation with the option of converting the entry business and investor visa into a long-term investor visa. The prime minister was informed that the business visa category was revised with the introduction of SIFC Business Entry and its extension. The business visa will be issued in 24 hours for a six-month short-term entry visa and a five-year long-term visa. The National and Database Registration Authority (NADRA) is managing the visa process and has also deployed its staff at the SIFC.

The prime minister inaugurated a memorial gallery where the pictures of martyrs were put on display. He mounted on the wall a photograph of Additional Inspector General of Police Safwat Ghayur who was martyred by the terrorists. He also visited the social media cell where he was given a briefing about its functioning.

Earlier,

Federal Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Monday, reiterating the government’s resolve to rid the country of the scourge of terrorism, said that Pakistan had won the battle against the menace but due to lack of continuity of policies, it was again in the state of war. It was not a war of the Pakistan Army and the civil armed forces but that of the State, the minister said while addressing the swearing-in ceremony of the 39th batch of police constables at the Police Lines Islamabad.

 

He said “proxies” were out to weaken the country, but to defeat them Pakistan’s armed forces and civil armed forces had set a new example by standing on the frontline with great spirit of sacrifice. The minister said that Pakistan being the citadel of Islam was the prime target of enemies. “Islam unites the whole nation, but the war was imposed on us to damage this unity. However, our all security forces fought the menace bravely.”

He said that the memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives in the war against terrorism would always remain alive in the hearts of every Pakistani. The minister made it clear that only the State had the authority to use force, and those treading the path of violence would be taken to task.
He said that a CTD inspector was martyred in a terrorist incident in Balochistan yesterday and another one embraced martyrdom a few days ago, but unfortunately cases were also being instituted against the Counter-Terrorism Department. He regretted that some people sitting in the assemblies and media-persons were becoming the voice of anti-national elements under an organized conspiracy, who were being monitored closely.

“No force can stop us from succeeding in the war against terrorism,” the minister said, adding that when the institutions became apolitical, they became stronger. Addressing the newly recruited policemen, he said,”If you live within their means, then you will not be attracted to corruption.” Corruption in the society had also become a big challenge like other problems, he added.