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TTP has increased number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan: Sheikh Rashid

The Interior minister said letters have been written to chief secretaries and inspector generals of police to stay alert regarding law and order situation in the country
He ruled out any ongoing negotiations with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Radio Pakistan
He ruled out any ongoing negotiations with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. Radio Pakistan

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Wednesday he has written letters to chief secretaries and inspector generals of police asking them to stay alert regarding law and order situation in the country.

"Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has increased the number of terrorist attacks in the country," the federal minister said in a press conference in Islamabad.

"Following the killings of two TTP terrorists in Islamabad, the government got a clue of three to four incidents [in which the outlawed group had a hand]," he said.

He ruled out any ongoing negotiations with the TTP, saying "it is impossible for any government to fulfill their [TTP's] demands". However, in case a law and order issue emerges, the government would tackle it, he added.

In January, a new wave of terrorism hit the country as the outlawed group accepted responsibilities of killing police officers in Islamabad and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

On January 22, the federal government again extended an olive branch to the TTP but warned of equal response if the latter opted to fight.

However, earlier in the same month, DG ISPR rejected any ceasefire agreement with the outlawed group, saying the operations against them were continuing.

Pakistan and TTP brokered a ceasefire agreement in November last year under the aegis of the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan, according to a document issued by the outlawed group.

However, the TTP declined to extend a month-long ceasefire with the government, accusing the officials of failing to honour the November agreement.

In response to a question, the federal minister also talked about recent transfer of two Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) officials who were probing sugar scams involving Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President and Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf estranged leader Jahangir Tareen 'in violation of the interior ministry rotation policy'.

"This must have been done by the DG FIA as no one [other institutions] has the authority to transfer officials except the Prime Minister Office. Meanwhile, institutions that come under the Interior Ministry are independent to take their decisions," he said, adding he had a talk with the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) chairperson about taking notice of officials in Sindh and opting for similar policies that had been followed in the FIA: "no officer would continue serving the same post for a period of more than three years."

He added 87 new Nadra centers have been established across the country in the last one year, while the ministry was also planning to establish 13 passport offices in Sindh, reported Radio Pakistan.

Rashid took a jibe at the opposition saying Prime Minister Imran Khan was a lucky person to have "such kind of opposition".

"During the span of 3.5 years, the federal government has been successful in passing almost all laws in both houses of the Parliament, the National Assembly and the Senate," he added.

The matter of law and security also surfaced in the press conference when the federal minister talked about the Pakistan Democratic Movement's long march to the federal capital.

He then gave reference to the former prime minister and slain leader of Pakistan People's Party Benazir Bhutto.

In an attempt to blame her for ignoring the security warnings, the federal minister said: "I was part of the meeting in which slain Benazir Bhutto was asked not to attend the rallies. However, she insisted on to attend the gathering."

The interior minister also said that Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif plans to visit Pakistan next week. He will hold talks with important personalities including the prime minister and President Arif Alvi.

He was also asked about rumors that he may be assigned the ministry of information portfolio, he said, no one had talked to him about that so far. "I am happy here and I will present my request if the topic is discussed."

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Sheikh Rasheed

Islamabad

Law and Order

ceasefire agreement

Taliban