Ahsan Iqbal plays down PML-N leaders' 'important meeting' in Saudi Arabia

QUETTA: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said anti-state elements who had fled from the country to avoid being captured by security forces were once again attempting to infiltrate into it to trigger unrest and fear.

Speaking to the media alongside Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousuf here, he said that terrorism had been uprooted from the country.

“The elements which had escaped from the country after security forces launched counter-terrorism operations were again trying to enter the country to create fear,” Ahsan Iqbal said.

He said the security forces were well-equipped and know very well how to fight the enemy of the country.

Commenting on convicted Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, he said that the Indian man had confessed to his involvement in terrorism, and subversive activities.

The interior minister urged political parties to desist from fomenting anarchy in the country as it will only serve the purposes of the enemy.

This was high time political leaders should stop leg-pulling, and unite, he advised.

Iqbal said he had issued directives for completing Quetta safe city project as soon as possible.

To a query about the top PML-N leaders gathering in Saudi Arabia, he played down the reports of any “important meeting” going to take place there, saying everyone goes to the kingdom and he too had been there.

It was not necessary that one should go to Saudi Arabia for political purposes, he clarified.

Sardar Muhammad Yousuf told the media that terrorists can never be successful in their nefarious designs. The Pakistan’s armed forces were determinedly fighting them, he added.

The sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the fight against terrorism will never go down the drain.