Pakistani PM vows to force militants to lay down arms

PAKISTAN: Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani Monday vowed to force the militants to lay down arms and said the writ of the government would be established at all cost.

Speaking at the parliament, Gilani accused the militants of pursuing foreign agenda to destabilize Pakistan and its institutions, according to official Associated Press of Pakistan.

“No matter how strong they may get, they cannot fight with the armed forces of Pakistan. We will soon force them to lay down their arms,” Gilani said, “These terrorists are out there trying to destabilize and conquer Pakistan. They have their own agenda. They don’t have a religion and are working under their foreign masters.”

The parliament session was convened exclusively to review the ongoing military operation against the militants in the northwest.

All the stakeholders had agreed that the operation in the area had become unavoidable and the parliamentarians belonging to Swat, Buner, Shangla and other adjoining areas were taken on board prior to the action, Gilani said.

He said that the armed forces were called out after taking into confidence all the political parties and stakeholders.

The provincial government of North West Frontier Province inked a deal with an outlawed group led by cleric Sufi Muhammad in February. The government agreed to enforce Sharia, or Islamic law, in Malakand Division of NWFP including the restive Swat valley once the peace was restored there.

However, Taliban militants in early April entered Buner District from the neighboring Swat district and were reluctant to vacate the area despite their pledge to do so. The security forces then started a military operation against them in Buner, followed by operations in other areas in the northwest.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Thursday said the armed forces had been called in to take decisive action against militants and terrorists in the northwest.

Islamabad, Tuesday, Xinhua