Cabinet pays tribute to security forces for Lal Masjid minimum loss

Cabinet pays tribute to security forces for Lal Masjid minimum loss

The Special Cabinet meeting held here on Tuesday with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in chair paid glowing tributes to the officers and men of the Pakistan Army, Rangers and the Police for executing the operation against Jamia Hafsa militants with minimum loss of human lives.Special tributes were also paid to Lt. Col. Haroon Islam and others who embraced martyrdom for the security and stability of their country.

The Cabinet offered Fateha for the departed souls and conveyed its profound sympathies to the bereaved families.

Prime Minister Aziz in his closing remarks said, "our heart goes out to the families of all those officers and men who laid down their lives to eliminate the terrorists and clean up our capital city from this hub of terrorist activity".

They sacrificed their lives, he said, in the cause of a peaceful, secure and stable Pakistan. "We salute them and pray that Allah may rest their souls in eternal peace", he added.

The prime minister appreciated the role of the civil society and specially the media that played a very constructive role throughout this difficult period.

He also thanked the residents of Islamabad in general and of the G-6 Sector in particular who suffered immensely during the past one week.

Their discomfort was, however, in the larger interest of Pakistan and he had no doubt that they will take it in that spirit, he added.

The prime minister said a handful of misled people attempted to challenge the writ of the government.

The government, he said, exercised patience and restraint and tried to resolve the issue through negotiations which was unfortunately misunderstood as our weakness.

The prime minister said that the events of July 3 when guns from four policemen were snatched and a wireless operator of the Rangers was shot dead and the building of the Ministry of Environment was burnt to ashes, forced us to react and establish the writ of the government.

The prime minister said that "the events of the last one week are before you during which all peaceful means were used until the early hours of this morning, for the release of hostages".

Abdul Rashid Ghazi, he added, wanted amnesty not only for himself but also safe exit for foreign militants who had been provided sanctuary in the Jamia and the Mosque.

The government he said was left with no option but to take action, since he (Ghazi) did not respond to any gesture.

The prime minister said that saving the lives of women and children has been government's top priority.

Throughout the operation, he said, the law-enforcement agencies exercised maximum restraint to minimise loss of human lives. "We have succeeded considerably, he added, and as of today nearly 1400 men and women have been rescued".

The prime minister said the government acknowledges the Supreme Court's directions and efforts for a peaceful resolution that was made by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, President of PML as well as the Ulemas and Mr. & Mrs. Abdul Sattar Edhi.

The prime minister said that on behalf of the Cabinet he would like to thank President General Pervez Musharraf for his consistent guidance throughout this period.

He also thanked the Pakistan Army, the Rangers, the Police and the Civil Administration for their commendable commitment and dedication that they demonstrated.

While concluding, the prime minister said, "let us all resolve that we shall rid Pakistan of all forms of extremism and relay the foundations of a truly Islamic, democratic Pakistan where the true spirit and teachings of Islam shall prevail".

Earlier, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani and Minister for Interior Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao briefed the Cabinet on the operations conducted so far.

Director General of Inter Services Public Relations Maj. Gen. Arshad Waheed gave a detailed account of the week long operations and specially of the events since this morning.