Dawn, 30 May 2010,
SAIDU SHARIF: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has hinted at extending the scope of the military operation to North Waziristan by declaring: “Action will be initiated wherever the government’s writ is challenged.”
Without directly referring to recent reports that the military high command had agreed, in principle, with the Obama administration to launch a full-scale operation in North Waziristan, Mr Gilani said: “Armed forces are present wherever militants and terrorists are present, but a regular operation will be extended where it is most necessary.”
Talking to journalists accompanying him during his visit on Saturday to Saidu Sharif, the headquarters of Swat district, the prime minister dismissed apprehensions of an executive-judiciary showdown, expressing the hope that his policy of peaceful coexistence and respect for institutions would work. Mr Gilani also rejected a perception that the prevailing situation could damage the very existence of the PPP-led government.
In reply to question about transparency in utilisation of funds provided by international donor agencies, the prime minister said: “I head a council which checks any irregularity of the funds being provided to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government for the affected people of Malakand and Swat.”
Earlier, addressing a large number of people at Wadoodia Hall, Mr Gilani said that operation would be launched in any area which provided a safe haven to militants.
The prime minister, who visited the militancy-hit town for the third time and distributed cheques among the affected people, said: “Military operation or use of force is not a permanent solution to any problem. Rehabilitation and reconstruction work needs to be carried out to win hearts and minds of the affected people.”
He also announced a package for Swat and Malakand, including setting up a university in Swat, and approved the construction of a tunnel in Malakand from the funds to be provided under the US Kerry-Lugar Bill and by the Friends of Pakistan group.
He said the area would be provided with gas as soon as its supply improved.
Mr Gilani defended the government’s decision to launch the military operation in Swat and Malakand and said the armed forces had not only flushed out the militants from the valley but also repatriated 2.5 million displaced people in record three months.
He said that action had been taken after terrorists had challenged the government’s writ and given it a five-day warning. “We took all political forces into confidence before launching the operation.”
The prime minister said his government had approved Rs25 billion for capacity-building of law-enforcement agencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two instalments had already been released.
He said that a damage assessment had been completed and the government approached the Friends of Democratic Pakistan for financial assistance in carrying out rehabilitation work in the affected areas. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Haider Khan Hoti said the people of Swat and Malakand had rendered great sacrifices and would continue to do so till the country was rid of extremists.
