ALTAF HUSSAIN DEMANDS FORMULATION OF NATIONAL COUNTER TERRORISM POLICY AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PERMANENT INSTITUTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF TERRORISM

London - 6^th December 2009

MQM Founder & Leader Mr Altaf Hussain has earnestly appealed to the President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, Members of Federal Cabinet, Institutions of National Security and Chiefs of Armed Forces to immediately formulate a National Counter Terrorism Policy (NCTP) and establish a permanent institution to prevent terrorism.  In his statement Mr. Altaf Hussain stated that the ongoing brutal, heinous and cowardly act of terrorism in the country has claimed the precious lives of innocent citizens and security personnel - and even innocent children are being targeted. He said that to stop and prevent such acts of terrorism the country currently does not appear to have a firm and coherent national policy or an institution. He said that other national departments and institutions have formulated their respective policies such as education policy, health policy, trade policy, economic and social policy etc; and to tackle with natural disasters and calamity a National Disaster Management Policy and an institution has been established, which becomes active immediately to deal with natural disasters and accidents. However, it is unfortunate that everyday anti-State elements and brutal terrorists are committing acts of terrorism throughout the country claiming the lives of thousands of innocent civilians, officers and personnel of law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies and armed forces -- but we don’t have a clear policy and institution to deal with such acts of terrorism. Therefore, it is the need of the time and to deal with the increasing acts of terrorism that a National Counter Terrorism Policy (NCTP) is formulated and a permanent institution is established for the prevention of terrorism. Mr. Hussain said that for the national security and stability, to provide security to the life and property of each and every citizen and to provide safety and security to important national institutions a comprehensive NCTP is needed immediately.

Mr. Hussain also recommended that alongside dealing with anti-State elements, the Government should also target on reduction in poverty, spread of education, provision of basic health facilities and employment and delivering good governance - as the shortage of such actions by the Government assists the religious extremists and terrorists. The personnel of armed forces and other law enforcement agencies are dedicatedly performing their duties to counter terrorism and sacrificing their lives but it is now essential that a policy is formulated that tackles this menace of terrorism and encourages inclusion of representatives from all walks of life. It is further stressed that the role of religious Scholars, Ulemas, political and social leadership and their workers, members of print and electronic media, civil society, lawyers fraternity, traders, businessmen, industrialists, labour class, youth, students and every member of the society has to play their role and provide the guidelines and raise awareness amongst the citizens on how to deal with terrorism. In the end Mr. Hussain once again demanded of the Government and those at the helm of affairs to announce the formulation of the NCTP and establish a permanent institution for the prevention of terrorism.