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WEEKLY
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| Planning and financing terrorism |
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Hoti asks Centre to expose foreign hand; Urges general public, traders to cooperate with government
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Khalid Kheshgi
PESHAWAR: NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti has asked the federal government to expose the foreign hand involved in planning and financing terrorism in the country.
Talking to reporters at the Chief Minister’s House here Saturday, Hoti deplored that terror activities in the province and elsewhere in the country were being executed through local people.
“We have conveyed our concerns and recommendations to the federal government about the involvement of external elements in the terror activities on our soil,” the chief minister said and called upon the federal government to identify and expose the foreign hand through diplomatic channels.
In response to a query, the CM questioned the alleged telephonic conversation of Swat Taliban Commander Fazlullah with a media organisation and said that if the fugitive commander was feeling safe and secure in the neighbouring Afghanistan, then the federal government should also raise this issue with the host country and international community.
“If Fazlullah was not feeling safe in Swat, Dir and Bajaur, then how he claims to maintain and supervise his activities from a secure place in the neighbouring country,” he questioned, asking the federal government to assert diplomatic pressure on those countries, which are directly or indirectly involved in terrorism on our soil. He added that unfortunately the terrorist activities were being executed through our own people. “Give them the name of Al-Qaeda, Taliban or terrorists, but they are being used for terrorism in our country,” the chief minister said.
He also announced enhancement in the compensation amount for security forces personnel, who embraced martyrdom in the line of duty, saying the ‘Shuhada Package’ for martyred security personnel would be effective from November 19, 2009 onward. Instead of Rs1.5 million compensation amount, the relatives of a deceased police cop will be provided Rs3 million now.
About the security and constant threats to Peshawar city, the chief minister announced ban on activities in the wedding halls and other such buildings after 12 midnight, saying that 16 highly equipped security checkposts had been sanctioned in the surroundings of the provincial metropolis.
He said the whole nation was untied against the menace of terrorism, asking the traders and general public to cooperate with the government in the elimination of militancy.
Hoti said a jirga, comprising elders and public representatives from Peshawar district, would soon be convened to chalk out a concrete security plan for Peshawar city and its suburbs. He also appreciated the formation of a ‘Task Force’ from the traders’ community and suggested to hold regular meetings at local and district levels.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
