Terrorism product of poverty, deprivation: CPO

Rawalpindi

City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Abbasi has said terrorism is the product of poverty, deprivation and un-employment which is being well addressed by the government but still needed to be addressed by all segments of society to lessen the reasons leading to this menace.

He expressed these views while addressing a seminar arranged by Directorate of Public Relations, Government of the Punjab Rawalpindi with the collaboration of National Press Club camp office Rawalpindi to make public the efforts of Punjab government for elimination of terrorism here on Friday. Among those who addressed the well-attended seminar included Pakistan Green Task Force head Dr. Jamal Nasir, MPA of PML-N Lubna Rehan, Director Public Relations Rawalpindi Division Hamid Javed Awan, Ex DPR Sana Ullah Akhtar, Information officer DPR office Tahira Irfan, Caretaker of NPC camp office Rawalpindi.

CPO Israr Abbasi said Punjab government, under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif was doing its best to drain away all obstacles in the path of establishing sustainable peace through poverty elevation, creating employment opportunities, empowering women and youth, making and enforcing law etc. He said Rawalpindi police was, under the National Action Programme finding out the hide outs of terrorists within from residential areas of the city. “Laws are being enforced irrespective of any political or other affiliation to bring all physical reasons of terrorism out to eliminate the same. He appealed to the citizens to shoulder their responsibilities to make these efforts a success by pointing out the hide out of terrorists and mischief mongers.

In his address, Dr. Jamal Nasir said the Punjab government was fully devoted to make the efforts of Pak Army successful in elimination of terrorism from Pakistan. He said Punjab government had established Integrated Anti-Terrorism Force first time in the history of Pakistan to practically proceed against terrorism. Apart from this, the government also introduced news laws which are proved very effective for the subtraction of terrorism from our society.

Earlier, DPR Hamid Javed, while presenting the briefing, said Punjab government was taking all possible steps for eliminating terrorism and extremism from the society to establish peace and tranquillity. He said some 97,608 cases had been registered related to extremism and terrorism in the province. These cases including the show of weapons, hate speeches, wall chalking and other acts that hatch this menace. “Law enforcing agencies of Punjab government have put 105,131 persons behind the bars in the charges of hatching and promoting the activities leading towards terrorism” he mentioned. He said under the Punjab Sound System Regulation Ordinance, Punjab government registered 10,690 cases under which some 11,399 culprits were arrested and 4,007 cases were disposed-off by the concerned courts of law. He also counted a number of other facts and figures to highlight the efforts of Punjab government towards purging the menace of terrorism from the society and said all these efforts were helping the Pak Army which was sacrificing for a noble cause of establishing peace in our country.

MPA Lubna Rehan also spoke on the occasion and counted a number of practical steps of Punjab government regarding elimination of terrorism. Care taker of National Press Club camp office Rawalpindi Iqbal Malik also spoke on the occasion and thanked CPO, DPR and other participants.