Share this story!            

Bin Laden not in Pakistan: Sherpao

* Interior minister rules out operation in Upper Dir
* Asks Afghan leaders to mind their own business, put own house in order

By Javed Afridi

PESHAWAR: Federal Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao on Sunday ruled out Upper Dir becoming the next battleground in the search for Osama Bin Laden and his associates following a report by an American television channel claiming the Al Qaeda chief’s presence in Pakistan.

“There is no iota of truth in the news report depicting the presence of Bin Laden in NWFP. The residents of the area need not to be worried by such baseless reports,” the interior minister told reporters after attending a tribal jirga from Mohmand Agency here at People’s House.

The minister also ruled out any US attack in the area to hunt down the Al Qaeda head. “These are mere speculations generated by irresponsible statements made by the Afghan leadership,” he said, and added that Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his government should put their own house in order instead of levelling allegations against Pakistan.

Sherpao said Pakistan had been extending maximum cooperation and assistance to Afghanistan for restoration of peace as the stability of Kabul was vital for Islamabad and for the whole region.

Regarding a missile attack in Balochistan on Saturday, the minister said the incident was being investigated. He said patrolling of the area by the security forces had been increased. To a question, Sherpao said his ministry had written a letter to the Foreign Office asking it to send a team to Afghanistan to ascertain the exact number of Pakistanis languishing in Afghan jails.

Earlier, in his address to the tribal jirga, the interior minister reiterated that Pakistan would not allow its soil to be used by foreigners for terrorist activities. The tribesmen were by and large peace-loving people and had all along showed loyalty and extended total support for the defence and solidarity of the country, he said.

The interior minister clarified that the operation in Waziristan was being conducted only to flush out foreign militants, who, according to him, had rejected the government’s offer for general amnesty and registration with the Pakistani authorities. Referring to government policy on FATA, Sherpao said a comprehensive development plan had been prepared to bring prosperity and peace to the tribal belt. He said the powers of the political administration would be increased to ensure timely implementation of uplift schemes.

He said the viewpoint of elected representatives and tribal elders would be given importance in the policy implementation. He said a separate authority had been set up at the Governor’s Secretariat to ensure proper utilisation of funds in a transparent manner and to monitor the timely completion of development schemes.

The interior minister assured the tribal jirga that a well-integrated communication link and network of social services would be established in the area that would substantially improve the living standard of the tribal people. He said duty-free reprocessing zones would be established in FATA, which would provide jobs to the people of the area. Tribal elders Abdul Wadud, Dr Nasir Mohmand and Fakhar Alam also spoke.

Home | National

Share this story!