People in business across the country support Operation Azm-e-Istehkam: Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt


ISLAMABAD, July 07 (SABAH): Former President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt, on Sunday, said people in business across the country support Operation Azm-e-Istehkam because it is a serious effort to eradicate terrorism from the country.

The country cannot develop until the end of terrorism; therefore, Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt said this operation and its success have become imperative.

Talking to the business community, Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt said that criticism of some political parties on this operation is unjustified.

The business leader said that all aspects of the operation should be considered seriously and that past mistakes should not be repeated so that the challenges faced by the nation could be tackled.

He said that the armed forces should find a lasting solution to the problem of law and order in the country and rid the country of the scourge of terrorism, regardless of the criticism of certain quarters.

Dr. Shahid Rashid Butt said that some politicians and other circles are expressing reservations and making speculations in this regard which are against the country’s interests.

There will be no investment until there is peace in the country, without which the government will become bankrupt as it cannot be run on loans forever.

Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt said that few neighbouring countries are using their land and resources for terrorism in Pakistan, due to which, despite the sacrifices of the armed forces, the incidents of terrorism are happening almost on a daily basis.

In the current situation, propaganda against national institutions is like supporting the enemies of the country, so patriotic Pakistanis should not fall prey to this conspiracy.

Mr. Butt said that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has decided to hold an all-party conference to address the concerns of the people, which is the right move to reach a consensus on critical national issues.

It is a fact that the counterterrorism move is aimed at reinvigorating and re-energising the ongoing implementation of the revised National Action Plan.

The previous kinetic operations were conducted to physically dislodge terrorists from their known locations, which had become no-go areas and compromised the writ of the state, he observed.

Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt said that extremism and terrorism should be dealt with comprehensively and decisively. Effective legislation should be made to punish the terrorists and bring the operation to a logical conclusion.