Tells NA committee two generations affected by Zia’s martial law; it will take 10 more years to change mindset
ISLAMABAD: Director General of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) Aftab Sultan on Wednesday said that the network of Daesh had been busted in Pakistan.
He said this during an in-camera briefing given to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics. The IB chief said that the mindset of two generations had been changed following Ziaul Haq’s martial law, and it would take eight to 10 more years to change their minds. Till then, occasional terror incidents would keep taking place, so it is a must that such a mental approach is changed.
He said that the network of Daesh had been busted and successful operations had broken the back of the terrorists. He said that there was a conspicuous decrease in the incidents of terrorism and target killings in the country, particularly in Karachi.
The IB chief admitted that there were intelligence reports regarding attacks on educational institutions but there was no particular information that the Bacha Khan University would be targeted. He said that media houses and educational institutions were the main targets of the terrorists.
He told the committee that terrorists involved in more than ten incidents, including attacks near the Wagah Border and ANP leader Bashir Bilour’s assassination, had been arrested. He said that the killers of Chaudhry Aslam Shaheed, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqir, Ashfaq Tanoli and Senator Khaild Soomro had also been arrested.
The DG IB told the NA standing committee that a conspicuous decrease was also noted in incidents of extremism and terrorism in Balochistan. He said that the targeting of the Hazara community was stopped in time. He said that executions had been carried out in Punjab while there was a lot of improvement in the law and order situation in Fata. He said that six accused of the Islamabad Kutchery blast were held while four were absconding.
While replying to a question, Aftab Sultan said that a majority of terrorists crossed the border after the launching of Operation Zarb-e-Azb. He said that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was cooperating with Daesh, adding that terrorists use social media for their activities. He said an arms depot of terrorists was also found in the Tarnol area of the federal capital.
Aftab Sultan told the NA committee that the IB and other institutions had taken appropriate steps and as a result foreign espionage activities were not possible now in Pakistan and internal security had been stabilised.
The DG IB said that no past or present government ever asked them to tape telephone conversations of politicians. He said that the IB had its own mechanism for taping which was strictly implemented.
He said in the past, even the Aiwan-e-Sadr and PM House were not safe from bugging, and bugging signals were often intercepted from the Diplomatic Enclave. Aftab Sultan told the committee that there was quite an improvement in the overall law and order situation in the country.
