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Death penalty for arms

smuggling: cabinet

to discuss ord on

15th: Babar

KARACHI: A special federal cabinet meeting is to be held on August 15, to discuss and approve the Ordinance providing for death sentence for smuggling of arms.

This was stated by Federal Interior Minister, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Nasirullah Khan Babar, while addressing a press conference here on Saturday.

At present, the Interior Minister said, arms were caught on receipt of intelligence information but in future, the offence will be liable to death penalty.

When told about common feelings that government intelligence agencies posted at Quetta and Peshawar were allegedly involved in the smuggling of arms, Nasirullah Babar pointed out that when arms are caught, the men rounded up would certainly leakout the sources of supply and the elements who supplied the weapons. Only then the government will proceed against those who are considered to have connivance with gun runners.

So far, he said, there had been no punishment for this crime but after the promulgation of this ordinance, anyone found involved in it would be liable to death penalty.

He said already, as a result of stringent measures taken by the government, the inflow of arms into Karachi has considerably reduced.

SHIFTING OF ACTIVISTS

He said four MPAs were among the 78 Altaf Group activists shifted from Karachi to Islamabad.

Replying to a question, he said they have been shifted to Islamabad because when they are taken away from the existing environment in Karachi, then they would come out with an open mind.

Babar said there had been no political motive in their shifting to Islamabad. He said many like Hashamuzzafar were arrested from Islamabad.

To a question, he denied arrest of Saleem Shahzad, a central leader of Altaf Group in Sharjah nor any team has been sent there for his arrest.

CIA ARRESTS

Babar during the course of his Press Conference disclosed that District Central CIA arrested Asif Baig, a MQM (A) activist and Incharge of Unit No. 159 alongwith his brother Nasir Baig on Saturday.

He said 11 revolvers, one 7 M.M. rifle and 40 rounds were recovered from them.

He said the two brothers were involved in more than 10 cases of murders and kidnappings. He said raids were being conducted for recovery of more arms.

FAHIM COMMANDO

Interior Minister Babar said that the United States has nothing to do with the arrest of Altaf Group terrorist Fahim Commando.

Replying to newsmen questions at a press conference that whether the U.S. had demanded his extradition, he said Government is not bound with handing over Fahim to the U.S.

He said only those who are responsible for committing a crime on the U.S. soil and they are hiding here can be handed over to the U.S. like Yusuf Ramzi, who had committed crime on U.S. soil.

REMOVES MISGIVINGS

Babar said that no favouritism was being shown to MQM (H) nor they are being used by the Government.

He said if they embark themselves on similar programme of Altaf group government will have no hesitation to proceed against them.

"I say openly, candidly and with an open mind that there are no favourites. We do not want to take one brother far from another brother. We want total unity".

If they feel that they can be used, then they are mistaken. We will not do that, Babar said adding that if they do come up with any evil intention he will be the first to come down on them with a heavy hand.

ZIA'S GRAVE

Nasirullah Babar told a press conference that people would be free to visit the grave of late Zia-ul-Haq in the premises of Faisal Mosque Islamabad.

He said people may go and offer fateha there although his body or part of his body is there. His grave is in Bahawalpur.

The people will be free to go there but would not be allowed to go with arms.

About non-publication of inquiry in Zia-ul-Haq's plane crash, Nasirullah Babar said the question be asked from General Aslam Baig who was army chief at that time.

He said Aijazul Haq had also announced to unfold the secret of Zia-ul-Haq's plane crash, but it is still awaited.

Babar said that he had received no report so far about the kidnapping of brother in law of Asif Zardari.

Zardari brother in law was kidnapped couple of weeks back he told newsmen.

He said that Ayub Afridi involved in drugs smuggling had escaped from Pakistan via Kandahar.

MAST GUL

He also denied that the United States government had objected on the presence in Pakistan of Afghan leader Mast Gul who arrived here from Indian occupied Kashmir last week.

Replying to newsmen questions, he said he has taken serious notice of Mast Gul carrying weapons in public during his visit to various Pakistani cities the government would not allow anyone to carry weapons in public he added.

REITERATES GOVT OFFER

He reiterated the Government's offer to terrorists to surrender themselves before the law and assured that they will be shown maximum liniency.

Replying to another question the Interior Minister said that there were about 300 to 400 persons who have shown intention to surrender to law. He assured that their cases will be examined dispassionately. He said many families too have shown their readiness in this regard and have advised their children to offer "Taub-e-Qurooli". He said he feel happy that people have started changing their mind.

The minister said that now generalized arrests were not being made. However LEAs are going for target arrests. Only last week 100 suspects were picked up, he added.

He said ask Ajmal Dehlavi on oath that Altaf Hussain asked for surrundering of 4-5 terrorists so that the matter could be hushed up. Ask him if he had received any such message or not, he said adding that if some terrorists had turned up, they have done so at their own.

IMRAN FAROOQ

WHen asked whether Dr Imran Farooq has been arrested, the Interior Minister said that time and again he has stated that whenever a terrorist is arrested, it would be made known to journalists.

Nasirullah said it is being said that Imran Farooq is in custody of Government and that a third group in MQM is being raised to be headed by him. Today they describe him as a 'Hero'. He said their own statements are shady. They themselves do not know what is happening.

He said Imran Farooq is not with the government and even MQM does not know where he is. He said he had talked about his mother here and had called her on telephone and then only it came to their mind that Imran's mother, too, has some place and position to be contacted.

FAROOQ DADA

Regarding Farooq Dada, he pointed out that his body laid with Edhi but no one had the courage to telephone him and it was only when he issued a statement that they should own him, (in that case they would have involved themselves in terrorism), it came to their mind after 14-15 hours that they should own him.

To another question, Nasirullah Babar said that there may be not more than 700-800 terrorists in Karachi as some have been killed and some arrested. Now killings are declining and most of them are being apprehended whereas some were on the run. He said he would not allow complacency to take place.

He said they feel that some 11,000 innocent people were killed during the last 11-12 years and they have started thinking about it because they too are nationalists and they have to live in Pakistan.

He said now traces of fear have started diminishing, they are looking upon themselves as to what they have done with the nation, with their own people and with Karachi.

He said, some terrorists have sneaked into the Punjab and some have shifted there out of fear. He said he would not say that all those who have gone to Punjab are all terrorists until they were identified as such.

CONGRATULATES KARACHIITES

Babar congratuled the people of Karachi for having peaceful days and nights, free from fear and terror, due to action taken by the government against terrorists.

The people, he said, have started feeling the change in the life of the city, which looked deserted in the recent past with no movement on a road like Sharea Faisal. He was confident that the peace would prove lasting.

He said the return of peace and normalcy in Karachi will be marked by stability which in turn would pave way for industrial development. He said what was more rejoicing for him is that people are happy and roaming around with a free mind.

He said from now on no one will think of shifting any industry from Karachi. He said already the stock exchange is picking up and it is going upward every week. Last week it closed at 1800 points and will rise further.-APP/PPI