Shehryar Afridi vows not to let anyone blackmail govt

KARACHI: State Minister for Interior Shehryar Afridi vowed on Saturday not to accept any pressure or let anybody blackmail the government.

“The government won’t be blackmailed anymore nor will it accept any pressure,” the minister asserted while addressing the Pakistan Rangers Sindh’s passing out parade here today.

“There will be no compromise on the country’s constitution and law,” he declared. “No one will be able to paralyze the system over a phone call from abroad,” he said in a reference to strike calls given by MQM founder Altaf Hussain from London in the past.

The minister said the state will compromise neither the country’s interests nor citizens’ respect.

Lauding the Rangers, he said the paramilitary troops exhibited high performance in every field. “Be it securing the country’s frontiers or restoration of peace in Karachi, they have fulfilled their responsibility everywhere.”

The Rangers brought peace to Karachi while overcoming all challenges, Afridi said, adding the force carried out more than 16, 000 operations within a period of five years and handed over more than 12,000 outlaws, including terrorists to police after arresting them.

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He said Karachi’s situation has improved as compared to what it used to be in the past, adding the city has become a hub of economic and trade activities.

The holding of events such as International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS), Aman-19 exercises and Pakistan Super League (PSL) in Karachi is the upshot of the Rangers’ efforts, the minister said. He hoped the elements that disturbed peace in Karachi won’t be allowed to revive their influence again.