Security personnel involved in smuggling to face court martial: Bugti

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti Monday said that any personnel of security forces found involved in cross-border smuggling would face arrest and would be court-martialed, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

"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," Bugti said during a press conference in Islamabad.

He said 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," he added.

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 caretaker minister further said 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."

The authorities, he said, had recovered 8,000 metric tonnes of sugar, and action was also being taken against petrol pump stations for selling sub-standard fuel.

Bugti went on to say that a database was being made of the trucks being used in the smuggling.

The government strongly discourages the usage of hawal and hundi, he also said, adding that 168 FIRs have been registered against people involved in the dollar's illegal trade.

The interior minister, in the same presser, said that if Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo 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 federal minister claimed that the government has to treat every Pakistani citizen in line with the law and the same would be done with Nawaz, the three-time prime minister.

On rising terrorism, the minister said several apex committee meetings were being held to address the issue, promising that “you will see changes in the days to come”.

His statement came as the country is reeling from deadly bombings in Balochistan and Khyber

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.”

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, 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.