Govt to chalk-out comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy:Imran Khan

Islamabad: Terming the menace of terrorism as the biggest challenge for the country in the year 2013, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday called upon the government, political parties and all other stakeholders to sit down and chalk out a comprehensive strategy to flush out terrorists from the country once and for all.

In a statement issued here, Imran Khan said that the menace of terrorism was a major hurdle in the country’s progress. He said that terrorism was the main cause for the prevailing economic crisis, adding that the government should take immediate steps to provide protection to the people, which was its constitutional obligation.

“Year 2012 was the most challenging year for Pakistan. The government’s writ was totally eroded across the country and the terrorism reached all time high as target killers, extortionists and sectarian assassins were at liberty to strike the innocent people at will while the kidnappers were out there to kidnap the people and get ransom as a routine business,” he added.

Strongly condemning the martyrdom of 21 levies officials by Taliban and the targeting of a bus carrying pilgrimages in Mastung which claimed another 20 precious lives, Imran Khan said that during the last five years, thousands of innocent people and security personnel had embraced martyrdom in various terrorist activities, which spoke volumes of the incumbent government’s ineptness and incompetence.

The PTI chief underlined the need that the government should overcome its ineptness and play its constitutional role so that the people could live a peaceful life.

Imran Khan urged that the government should have to realize its responsibilities and it should work out a well-thought-out plan by taking all the political parties and other stakeholders on board to weed the menace of terrorism out forever from the country.

He has said that due to uncertain security situation, foreign investors were not ready to invest in Pakistan while Pakistanis businessmen had been transferring their capital abroad, adding that during the last five years thousands of small and big industries were shifted abroad, leaving thousands of employees jobless while it had brought the country’s industrial wheel to a standstill.

Imran Khan said that it was need of the hour that the government should take steps on a war-footing to get rid of these problems.

He hoped that the new year would bring a change in the country during which the country would progress by leaps and bounds if the people voted for honest, patriot and competent politicians.

He expressed optimism that the year 2013 is a year of change and the people would play their role in getting rid of these corrupt and inept rulers.