DMO On Swat Operation

Election-army Over 35,000 troops to be employed during elections

ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (APP): Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Major Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha on Wednesday said that over 35,000 troops of Pakistan Army would be employed to ensure law and order situation in parts of the country during elections.

The troops employment would be made to assist the civil administration in case any law and order situation arises, he said while briefing media at GHQ.

He said that the Election Commission of Pakistan has set up around 72,000 polling stations for 342 National Assembly and 728 provincial assemblies seats for February 18 polls, thus adequate number of troops have been specified for the purpose in accordance with the requisition by the civil administration.

He dispelled the impression that law and order situation was a deliberate attempt to achieve certain motives in parts of the country and said, there is no substance in such allegations as Pakistan Army is purely working in accordance to the orders given by the Government.

"Pakistan Army does not speak language of bullet but it works in accordance to the need of the government," he said in firm tone.

He said there is no such directive to army troops to be deployed during elections to "shoot at sight" the miscreants. "The troops would be there to assist the civil administration and would act only in case the police and civil administration fails to maintain the law and order," he said

 

Muharram-Army Around 17,000 troops deployed in sensitive areas during Muharram: DGMO

ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (APP): Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Pakistan Army Major General Ahmed Shuja Pasha on Wednesday said that 17,000 troops of Pakistan Army have been deployed to maintain law and order in sensitive parts of the country during Muharram.

The troops deployed in the four provinces would assist the civil administration to maintain law and order and would be active in case the police or civil administration fails to control the situation, he said while briefing media persons at GHQ.

Maj-Gen Pasha said a total of 159 companies of Pakistan Army have been deployed in 29 districts of Punjab, 11 districts of Sindh, seven districts of NWFP and one district of Balochistan.

He said, in addition to the army troops, 54 companies of Rangers and Frontier Corps have also been engaged in these sensitive districts of the four provinces.

He said that this year the employment of troops in NWFP has been increased as compared to the last year. During 2007, he said 97 companies of Pakistan Army were employed during Muharram.

He said the troop deployment was made following request by the civil administration

 

 

Operation 'Rah E Haq' in Swat accomplished: DGMO

ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (APP): Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Pakistan Army Major General Ahmed Shuja Pasha on Wednesday said that operation "Rah E Haq" in Swat to re-establish the writ of the government and clean the area from miscreants has been successfully accomplished.

Giving a detailed briefing on the subject at the General headquarters, the DGMO said during the operation, spread over around three months, 36 security personnel embraced shahadat while 9 civilians were killed.

More than 615 miscreants were arrested while over 100 of them were still under investigations while the rest have been released, Maj-Gen Pasha said.

He said ten notorious miscreants including close allies of Maulana Fazal Ullah identified as Fazale Ahad (brother of Fazal Ullah), Liaqat, Fazalur Rehman, Mahboob ur Rehman, Iqbal Khan, Inam Ur rehman, Waheed Khan and Maulana Shakoor had been killed during the operation.

"Pakistan Army troops have pushed out the miscreants from the Swat valley to an adjoining isolated area having mountain peaks fully covered with snow," he said

DGMO Maj Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha said during the operation an utmost care had been exercised by the troop to avoid any collateral damage to the life, due to the dense population in the area. He said that the law and order situation in the area had arisen back in 1990 and due to slackness in matching attention to the problem in the past it kept rising.

He said the situation had worsen to the level that the police stations and civil administration were simply non-existent as the police stations were under the complete command of Taliban. The local populace was being subjected to brutal tortures and killings. Seeing the worst situation the provincial government of NWFP requested Pakistan Army to deploy troops in the area which successfully carried out operation.

Answering a question he said the lasting peace in the area could be achieved through steps to empower the civil administration and police which may keep strict vigil on law and order. He pointed out that the trends of miscreants could be checked with the help of people who should stop their support besides paying them donations.

He said that the affected people are presently being provided relief

by the troops under "Quick Impact Project" costing Rs one billion while a compensation package for them has also been recommended. He said the injured in the area were provided free medical care while the families of the deceased were also given proper care and attention.

He said the local populace is extending all cooperation to the troops as they had welcomed them with open arms and took a sigh of relief seeing their presence in the area.

He said the confidence of miscreants has been badly shattered.

DGMO said election activity in the area is visibly seen while 12 FM stations have re-started their transmissions.

He said the pull out plan of troops from the area would be considered in the due course of time.

He said to launch operation in the area was the most difficult decision to be implemented however, it was initiated to check the curse.

He thanked the media for their pragmatic and optimistic reporting of the happenings. However, he was critical about some specific tv channels for showing bloody scenes and bodies of the dead on the screen. He said " As a common citizen of the country I want to ask the TV channels that what service are they extending to the society by showing such gory scenes."

Answering to a question he said that Baitullah Mehsood had been hiding in some hide out in Waziristan and some reports have revealed that he is critically ill

 

 

 

DGMO-Foreign No foreign force to be allowed to carry out operation in Pakistan: DGMO

ISLAMABAD, Jan 16 (APP): Director General Military Operation Pakistan Army Major General Ahmed Shuja Pasha on Wednesday stated in firm tone that no foreign force would be allowed to carry out operation in Pakistan.

Referring to President Pervez Musharraf's recent press statement on the issue, Gen. Pasha said, the President had already given a clear statement and this is the country's policy.

Giving briefing to media in General Headquarters, he said as far as the matter of intelligence sharing with the US is concerned, liaison is there -Pakistan Army is continuing its support.

Over 120,000 troops of Pakistan Army have been deployed on the country's western border and in Waziristan area to keep vigil on the situation as well as to check cross border movements, he said.

He said that the country's armed forces are vigilant and if any such situation arises to deploy troops on eastern borders it could easily be done.

He said Pakistan being major contributor to the UN peacekeeping operations abroad has earned laurels due to their professional and proficient approach to deal with the untoward situations.

 
Military operation not meant to save president Musharraf regime operation: DGMO 
ISLAMABAD, January 18 (Online): Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Maj Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha has said military operation in Swat or Waziristan has not been launched to save President Musharraf's or some one else government.
"Military operation has not been initiated to save government of president Musharraf's regime or some one else government. Government sought army help and we have come here under the directive of government. We have no eagerness to conduct operation against our own country men; It is very difficult decision and there is tremendous pressure on us in this respect", he said this during a press briefing here Wednesday in GHQ.
Responding to a question DGMO said he couldn't give any guarantee about re-emergence of militants. People should not extend donations to them and not to be intimidated by them. "We have pushed them into an area of Swat wherefrom they can not browbeat people. Some have fled to Afghanistan, while some have mingled with general public", he indicated.
He acknowledged that local Taliban were citizens of Pakistan. Extending support to Taliban in 1990 was policy of the then government and not of the army, he pointed out.
He told 120000 troops were deployed in Swat and Waziristan. "We will however focus fully on our borders with India if situation worsens there. We moved to Swat at the behest of government", he remarked.
"Language of bullet is not language of army, "he stressed. It is government, which decides to use army. "However dialogue process is still underway in Swat", he maintained.
"Our cooperation with US is very clear. However we will not allow any one including US to conduct any operation inside our borders", he announced in unequivocal terms.
"No one can wage armed struggle against one's own country", he said adding, and "if they will take up arms then some one has to stop them."
Responding to a question he said president had talked of opening fire on those found involved in disrupting electoral process in some other perspective. Such decision will be taken by respective field commander after taking into consideration the situation", he remarked
"We know it well army is no solution to Swat issue", he said adding civil administration and next government should address their demands. If police discharges its duty honestly then there will be peace otherwise not.
He told Fazlullah could not be arrested so far.. He escaped narrowly once. He can be in Peo Char or Chaprial, DGMO hinted.
To another question he said there was no reality in the reports about escalation of military operation after arrival of new army chief. "Army chief's vision is very clear in this connection", he underlined.
"We are sharing intelligence with US but there is no US intelligence office operating in Pakistan. Contact is made through a liaison officer, " he informed.
Responding to a question he said whereabouts of Baitullah Mehsud were unknown, but he could be living among his Mehsud tribe.
No decision has been taken to set up any garrison in Swat, Maj Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha pointed out.
Tremendous achievement has been made in Swat Operation so far, he said adding 36 soldiers have embraced martyrdom and 72 have been injured so far. Operation Swat was started on November 13. Presence of Police and local administration was next to nil in Swat at that time. Taliban were spilling into all areas, he told. Fazlullah war the real ruler there. " We started taking control of the areas from the possession of Taliban. All the areas barring two or three have been retracted and their control has been handed over to local administration, he indicated.
Fazal Ahad, brother of Maulana Fazlullah has been arrested in addition to his 8 key commanders, he told.
617 people were arrested during the operation and 517 were released after investigation, he informed.
People of these areas welcomed military operation, he said adding no Taliban police station is left in the area and writ of the government has been restored. Police have returned to their duties. Schools and trade centers have been opened.
Government has set up 12 FM radio stations to counter propaganda blitz of Maulana Fazlullah, he held. Government will soon announce relief package for Swat and Shangla Hill.
He indicated troops had been deployed in 48 districts across the country to assist civil administration during Muharram ul Harram.
Ends/Online
RT/TR/ZK

-----------------------------------------------------------
N A D E E M M A L I K
CNBC PAKISTAN
BUREAU CHIEF
ISLAMABAD
0321-5117511
nadeem.malik@hotmail.com
16^th Floor, Saudi Pak Tower, 61-A Jinnah Avenue, Islamabad. 051-2800113-14, Fax: 051-2800118
 

---

Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger