The army operation against militants in Swat and Malakand division will soon be over but Pakistan will continue to fight terrorism and take the campaign to its "logical conclusion", Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Wednesday. "The nation will soon hear the good news... soon the army operation will be over.
A survey is being conducted after which the process of reconstruction will start," Gilani told journalists during a meeting in Islamabad. He assured the nation that his government will continue to fight terrorism and "will take this action to its logicalconclusion". Terrorism is "a cancer" and has no religion, boundaries or morals, he said. The whole country, including civil society, media and political parties, are united on the issue of fighting terrorism and wanted decisive and result-oriented action,Gilani said. Pakistan and its economy cannot achieve progress until terrorism is rooted out, he said. "Law and order and economic development are inter-related," he added. However, Gilani said the military operation which was launched only after the writ of the government was challenged
The capacity of police and law enforcement agencies will be strengthened in the North West Frontier Province and the tribal areas with the recruitment of more police personnel. Till the new police personnel are trained, the government will recruit ex-army officials to fill the vacuum, Gilani said.
The people displaced by the fighting will be sent back to their homes and the government is committed to complete the rehabilitation and reconstruction process in militancy- affected areas in a transparent manner through the involvement of all stakeholders. Gilani also paid tribute to soldiers and law enforcement personnel who laid down their lives in the operations against the militants. He also said the government has other important issues and challenges to confront, including poverty, education and an energy crisis.
