Shehryar stresses collective efforts for protecting, strengthening national security
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- Published on 27 November 2018
ISLAMABAD, Nov 22 (APP):Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi Thursday said the elements, who damaged the beloved country would be dealt with an iron hand and collective efforts are needed for protecting and strengthening national security. Addressing a conference titled 'National Security, Nation Building and Mass Media', organized by Pakistan Institute of Conflict and Security Studies, he said, the government is accountable to its deeds, enough is enough, we must put our house in order by engaging all key stakeholders, making accountable to vested interests, who inflicted innumerable damages to the country's repute.
He said the government was planning to engage country's 70 percent youth aged between 18 to 35 years in nation building activities, attract foreign direct investment (FDI) for reviving the economy. He
urged media to avoid flashing the news having potential to damage national interest and create chaos in the country.
The US media avoid highlighting Chicago despite having highest crime ratio in the world. Likewise minorities are in pathetic condition in India but Indian media is silent over the issue.
He said Media should better launch a campaign against the responsible of looting billion of rupees in name of safe city project. We have miserably failed to ensure check and balances among media and other institutions as some vested interests including so called leaders were also indulged in defaming their own country. He quoted the example of Ajmal Kasab,who was owned by the government of that time.
"Why media avoided launching campaign against plunderers of billion of rupees in the name of national security. Media did not give importance to news stories of the incarcerated Dr Aafia Siddique and exaggerate news relating to Aasia Masih," he said.
He lamented that the former governments did not devised a policy regarding registration of International Non Governmental Organisations (INGOs). He said the government has decided to launch an across the globe campaign urging the world to avoid insulting or defaming sacred personalities of all religions . Government has firm resolve to promote and strengthen civil, military coordination.
Introduce reforms in seminaries as four million students are studying in 32,000 religious seminaries.He said unfortunately National Action Plan was not implemented in letter and spirit which resulted in disorder in the country. The State Minister called for bringing the religious seminaries to the main stream to build a national narrative. He said now the country has changed and government will stand with law enforcement agencies (LAEs). The intelligence agencies, LEAs, civil and security institutions would work in cohesion that too only to protect national interest.
