Many countries averse to CPEC: Nisar

Says meeting COAS not power politics; plots being hatched against CPEC but it is a reality; inaugurates ‘Safe City Project’; addresses police passing-out parade

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Monday that there were many countries that were averse to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

He said that there were certain elements that were against CPEC and hatching conspiracies to derail this mega project, a key to Pakistan’s prosperity and progress. The minister said, “China is a time-tested and trustworthy friend of Pakistan and the prosperity and progress of both China and Pakistan are interlinked. CPEC is a reality which is on the way to existence and is cementing Pakistan and China relations of progress for the region,” said Nisar. “No power can undermine this mega project as the people of both China and Pakistan and military leadership of both countries are committed to taking it forward,” he commented.

He said that it was not power politics to have a meeting with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif as it was a routine matter and such meetings were held whenever necessary.He said that India would not be granted consular access to Kalbhushan Yadav since Yadav was an Indian agent and entered Pakistan with special objectives.

Talking to the media here on Monday at the inauguration ceremony of ‘Islamabad Safe City Project’, the interior minister made it clear that Indian agent Kalbhushan Yadav entered Pakistan on a vested agenda and on this perspective Pakistan would not allow consular access to Yadev.

Kalbhushan was arrested from Balochistan by the security forces and intelligence agencies of Pakistan and had admitted carrying out subversive activities in the province to destabilise Pakistan. On the other hand, India had deniedsubversive activities in the province to destabilise Pakistan. 

On the other hand, India had denied claims that Kal Bushan was an Indian agent and was sent to destabilise Pakistan. The Indian government had demanded consular access to Yadev, which Pakistan had rejected a couple of days ago.

Ch Nisar also warned those who were in possession of fake CNICs stating that strict legal action would be taken against them after immunity of two months. Commenting on re-verification process of CNICs, the minister said that public would not go through pain for verification of CNICs adding that all those who were making criticism on re-verification process should tell if public was standing in queues for re-verification of their CNICs, adding that re-verification was being made in larger interests of the country and people of Pakistan.

“Re-verification process will be completed within six months the way SIMs verification process was completed within record time,” said interior minister. Highlighting the features of ‘Safe City Project’ interior minister said that the government was going to utilise modern technology in containing menace of terrorism and purging the capital city of crimes and criminal activities. “Safe City Project is one of its types that will assist in identifying suspected vehicles and suspected individuals through surveillance of CCTVs,” he said.

Speaking on security situation in the capital, the minister said that it was his wish that checkposts in Islamabad should come to an end adding that after monitoring from CCTVs in accordance with Safe City Project, checkposts would be decreased from roads of federal capital.

As per Safe City Project, 1950 surveillance cameras had been installed at different points of the capital city under this project and the project would be helpful in maintaining law and order situation and improving traffic system in the federal capital, he said.

The project had been completed with an estimated cost of $126 million and according to capital’s management spokesperson, the project’s command and control centre had been established in a bomb proof building at H-11 sector. Security personnel would monitor important buildings, entry and exit points, roads, commercial centres and scores of residential areas through threes cameras.

Inaugurating the project, the interior minister said that Islamabad would be under foolproof security after installation of security cameras in the city. The project would serve as role model for other parts of the country and would be replicated in other cities, said Nisar.

Responding to a query, the minister said that the government was willing and devising process to upgrade training mechanism of security personnel of Islamabad police adding that during last two years, security situation and crime’s ratio in Islamabad had become much better. The minister also said that unnecessary security protocol of different personalities was also being curtailed by improving security situation in the capital city. “Islamabad Police is being transformed on modern tools,” said Nisar adding that IG Islamabad Police was solely responsible for transfers and allocations of police force.

The minister said that roads adjacent to Constitutional Avenue that were hindered access on security issues had been cleared during his charge as interior minister adding that issues relating forced disappearance were being sorted out with coordination of agencies concerned.

Earlier, addressing police passing-out parade of newly recruited police officials at Police Lines, Islamabad, Ch Nisar Ali Khan said that capital city would be cleaned from crime and criminal activities and pinned hopes on newly recruited police personnel to bring positive change in society through justice and merit.

Ch Nisar said that merit and transparency was ensured in recruiting process of Islamabad Police personnel and also vowed to ensure merit and transparency in recruitment of ‘Rapid Response Force’ officials.

The minister said that it was his earnest desire to inject new blood adding that newly recruited police officials would utilise their potentials in providing assistance and justice to the public. “Every recruiting police official can play his role at individual level in bringing positive change in policing system of the capital city and in purging the capital city of crime and criminal activities, said Nisar. The minister also said that the country could be put on way to progress and prosperity if every section of the government fulfilled its responsibility on merit. Every single recruitment in Islamabad Police had been made on merit with transparency and this sequel of transparency and merit would continue in future as well, said interior minister.

“Historic efforts have been made against terrorism during last two years and officials of Pak armed forces, police and law enforcement agencies are worthy to be applauded in making efforts for eradication of terrorism from the country,” said Ch Nisar Ali Khan. Before 2013, five to six blasts were reported on daily basis in parts of the country, but since then, situation had changed a lot and the situation had gone towards betterment with endeavours of public and law enforcement agencies, said Nisar.

Commenting on confronting internal and external challenges of the country, the minister said that Pakistan is standing on decisive-phase relating to security issues. The minister also gave away keys of vans to law enforcement agencies gifted by Chinese government and also distributed prizes among outstanding recruits of the police.

It is worth mentioning here that 480 newly recruits including 45 female recruits have been made part of Islamabad police at the passing-out parade. The minister also tasked IG Islamabad Tariq Masood Yasin to utilise all available efforts to cleanse capital city from criminal activities.

The minister also urged public and media to coordinate with the government through positive criticism by identifying loopholes and also by appreciating positive endeavours on part of government and state departments.