Any personnel of security forces found involved in cross-border smuggling would be court-martialed: Sarfraz Bugti

ISLAMABAD, Oct 2, (SABAH): Caretaker Interior Minister Senator Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Khan Bugti on Monday said that any personnel of security forces found involved in cross-border smuggling would be court-martialed.

“If I say that security forces weren’t involved in [smuggling], it won’t be right as the [smuggled] items are transported via trucks, not camels,” Sarfaraz Bugti said while addressing a press conference along with Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi in Islamabad.

Sarfraz Bugti mentioned that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir had told military personnel that whoever is found involved in illegal cross-border trade would face the music. “Pakistan’s army chief had told his people very clearly: there won’t only be court-martials, but those involved in such activities would also be sent to jail,” the interior minister mentioned.

Sarfraz Bugti told reporters that the army’s accountability mechanism is not made public and that’s why it is not in the knowledge of the masses. “But the army has its own accountability [system]; and we have not just seen it in this instance, but post May 9 as well,” the interim interior minister noted.

The minister mentioned that the government was taking action against smugglers and that they were also appreciating law enforcers for their part in the crackdown on the people involved in illegal activities.

“The state will deal with hawala, hundi, and other illegal activities with an iron fist,” he said. He said the authorities had recovered 8,000 metric tonnes of sugar, and action was also being taken against petrol pump stations for selling sub-standard fuel. The minister said a database was being made of the trucks being used in smuggling.

Sarfraz Bugti said the government strongly discourages the usage of hawal and hundi. He mentioned that 168 FIRs have been registered against people involved in the dollar’s illegal trade.

The minister, in the same presser, mentioned that if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif plans to return to the country and partake in politics, it would be “encouraging”. “I am still saying, despite what PML-N leaders have said about me, that Nawaz Sharif is the leader who came back to the country with his daughter; if he was afraid of going to jail, he would not have come back.”

The interim interior minister claimed that the government has to treat every Pakistani citizen in line with the law and the same would be done with Nawaz, a three-time prime minister.

Sarfaraz Bugti said that several apex committee meetings were being held to address the issue of terrorism in the country, promising that “you will see changes in the days to come”. Sarfraz Bugti said he would address the issue of rising terrorism in a media talk tomorrow.

“We have a limited time and limited mandate and we want to fix things that are meant for daily basis. I must say we do not have any softness for anyone irrespective of how influential they are,” he asserted.

In response to a question, the interior minister said the Mastung bombing and other terror incidents were being probed. “RAW’s involvement had been found in incidents that occurred previously in Balochistan. The current bombing is being investigated and once done, we will share details including its executioners and sympathisers.”

He further stated, “No matter what kind of violence it is, our security forces have the capacity and they have won the fight against terrorism by demonstrating courage. “I strongly believe that our enemy does not have much capacity.” Sarfraz Bugti also lamented the “divide in our society” and called on ending it.

“Only the state can exercise violence and this is our consensus. There is zero tolerance for it. You will see changes in days to come,” he said, asserting that Pakistan was resolved to remove all terrorists.

“If someone wants to impose their agenda through gunpoint, they are mistaken. Only the Constitution will prevail.”

At one point, the minister also said that recent attacks were not “unexpected” because Pakistan had decided to become a “hardened state” hence the “reaction was due”.

“Terrorism is a complicated fight and they don’t have anything else except suicide bombing. State institutions have to protect every inch of the land. This is a difficult fight but not an impossible one. We will fight this,” he vowed.

Talking about poll security, Sarfraz Bugti said it was the government’s responsibility. “We held a meeting with the Election Commission of Pakistan today and we will hold more meetings,” he revealed, adding that the government would request the state institutions whenever the need for security arose.

Meanwhile Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi and Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti at a meeting in Islamabad have categorically stated  that there is no place for terrorists and their facilitators in Pakistan.

They expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the recent bomb blasts.

The two ministers reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment to providing every possible support to the Election Commission of Pakistan in fulfilling the constitutional responsibility of conducting elections in the country.

In his remarks, the Information Minister said maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the government. He said it is our duty to assist the Election Commission in ensuring the conduct of free, fair and impartial elections in the country.