Pakistani forces launch drive to take on terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday launched a countrywide, multi-agency drive to “indiscriminately” eliminate remnants of terrorism, a military statement said.

Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad was announced after army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa met the corps commanders of Punjab, the director general of Pakistan Rangers Punjab, and the heads of intelligence agencies.

It comes in the wake of a series of suicide attacks in recent days, including on a Sufi shrine and a court complex, claiming more than 100 lives.

But observers said the operation is not expected to target India-centric groups like the Jamaat-ud-Dawah.

“The operation aims at indiscriminately eliminating residual/latent threat of terrorism, consolidating gains of operations made thus far and further ensuring security of the borders,” said a statement issued by the military’s media arm.

Pakistan’s air force, navy, civil armed forces and other security and law enforcement agencies will jointly participate in efforts to eliminate terror from the country in the drive, whose name roughly translates to “operation to eliminate discord”.

“The effort entails conduct of broad spectrum security/counter terrorism operations by Rangers in Punjab, continuation of ongoing operations across the country and focus on more effective border security management,” the statement said.

“Countrywide de-weaponisation and explosive control are additional cardinals of the effort.”

The army has the go-ahead of the country’s political leadership.

RESPOND TO SAEED PLEA, COURT ORDERS

A Pakistani court on Wednesday asked authorities to respond by March 7 to a petition filed by Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and four others challenging their detention and their listing under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

A division bench of the Lahore high court issued notice to the home department of Punjab province after taking up the petition filed by Saeed and his aides, who were put under house arrest on January 30.

The court also asked authorities to provide material justify the detention of the five men.

Saeed, who heads the Jamaatud-Dawah, and his aides Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdur Rehman Abid, Kashif Hussain and Abdullah Ubaid approached the high court on Tuesday to challenge their detention and listing under the Fourth Schedule of the AntiTerrorism Act, which imposes further restrictions on their movements and activities.