Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said the government is going to implement immigration system along Pak-Afghan border in Chaman and Torkham from November.
Addressing a news conference at Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Wednesday, Malik said the government would revive the biometric computerised system by November 30 to screen all people travelling across the Pak-Afghan border.
The move has been made after frequent terror attacks and increase in sectarian violence in Balochistan.
The interior minister said he had come to Quetta with the task to discuss three issues, including illegal cross border activities, target killings of Hazara community and negotiations with those angry Baloch nationalists who had taken to hills. He was accompanied by Home Minister Zafarullah Zehri on the occasion. Malik visited the Chaman border and also held meetings with members of the Hazara community and Sunni leaders in Quetta.
Speaking about biometric computerised system, he said, “It will be most modern system aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from crossing into Pakistan, and keep a check on cross-border activities.” He added, “I have talked to officials and tribesmen on either side of the border and they have expressed their willingness to extend their cooperation to curb the activities of illegal immigrants.”
He said people would not be allowed to enter or exit through Pak-Afghan border without screening by November 30. He disclosed that he had intelligence reports that terrorists, including those behind sectarian violence in Balochistan, were operating from prisons in the province and had contacts with banned organisations in Punjab.
He said massive crackdown had been launched in different jails following the intelligence reports. “Officials have recovered mobile phones and other things, which indicate involvement of terrorists in sectarian attacks,” he added.
He said that terrorists had contacts with Punjab based banned outfits.
He announced that the government intended to convene a ‘Peace Conference’ in Quetta in November, which will be attended by all the Islamic scholars, intellectuals and religious leaders, including Imam-e-Kaaba.
“It is meant to give a clear message of peace,” he said. He said efforts were underway to supplement the Evidence Act after suggestions made by the provincial home minister and home secretary that the Act needed to be supplemented in order to improve the process.
About reconciliation process in Balochistan, the interior minister reiterated that the government was serious in addressing the grievances of people of Balochistan.
“I again offer to those Baloch angry people who took to hills: For God sake lay down your arms and join the negotiation process,” he asserted.
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