ISLAMABAD :Terming the lawyers' long march a big challenge, Rehman Malik, Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior, said on Saturday that the government was ready to take the challenge of long march, and no sit-in would be allowed at Constitution Avenue.
"There are threats of target killing, serial bombing, and suicide attacks during long march, which have forced the government to withdraw forces from terror-hit areas of the NWFP", he said while talking to media after the launching of 'Polio Campaign 2009' at National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra)."I am not terrorising the lawyers or political activists, but we have received clear information of terrorist strikes during long march from elite intelligence agencies of the country", Rehman said, adding that political leaders "are under threat", and he had already informed the political leadership.About statement by Nisar Ali Khan, regarding entry of criminals of Sindh in Punjab for killing PML-N leaders, he said that he would personally talk to Nisar, and review the information. "I request Chaudary Nisar on behalf of the government to share such information with it", he added.He asked lawyers to postpone the long march for the sake of the country, and said that enemies of Pakistan were bent upon causing damages to Pakistan, and degrade it internationally. "When our enemies attack Sri Lanka cricketers, then long march could also be an easy target for them, and it could be huge life loss", he added.Rehman said that under the present challenging situation, the country could not afford any long march or sit-in. "When the country is facing challenges of terrorism and economic disorder, there should be a 'march for unity' for economic strength. There should be 'march' towards FATA, Swat and other terrorist-hit areas to bring peace and normalcy to these areas", he said.In place of Parade Ground, lawyers should chose any other place, "and we will assure them all facilities, including live coverage on national media," he said. The Advisor said: "Diplomatic community in Islamabad has expressed concern about the long march and sit-in, and I given them written assurance that routine life would go on normally, and Constitution Avenue will not be closed."
He said that no one would be allowed to move on Constitution Avenue as any law and order situation in that area would bring bad name to the country. He said that alternative places had been offered to the lawyers, but they refused it. The Interior advisor appealed to the masses not to take part in the so-called long march and sit-in.The lawyers were offered an alternative venue for the sit-in, but they rejected the offer, Malik said. He said that the government did not want politics of confrontation, but reconciliation, for better future of the country. He added that the issues should be resolved through political means.Rehman said that the government has not imposed curbs over any private news channel. "It will be a fault of the cable operators, and it will be checked", he added. Earlier, addressing the gathering, he said that was good to see that the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Health had joined hands to eradicate polio from the country.He assured that Nadra would utilise all its resources to reach every corner of the country and make it polio-free. Ejaz Hussain Jakhrani, Federal Minister for Health, said that "through this platform, I call upon provincial governments at all levels and all sectors, media, partner agencies, the private sector, community leaders and especially parents to ensure that each and every child is immunised during the campaign on March 16-18".He appreciated and thanked Nadra on taking this very important initiative to save the future generations of Pakistan from the clutches of the disease and disability caused by polio. Interior Secretary Kamal Shah, Nadra Chairman Ali Arshad Hakim, Unicef/WHO representatives and officials of Ministry of Health were also present on the occasion.
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