Protecting citizens is state’s responsibility: Pervaiz Rashid

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Pervaiz Rashid on Sunday said that security of citizens is the responsibility of the state.

Speaking to media representatives here, he said schools were also closed in America over security concerns after an incident, in a reference to closure of schools in the Punjab province.

Pakistan is committed to root out terrorism for a peaceful world, he said, adding that information collected by the intelligence agencies had helped eradicate the terrorist.

When asked about the Pathankot incident, the information minister said it was aimed at sabotaging the process to improve Pak-India relations.

He said that such terrorist acts also affected the Kashmir cause as the government had always put that issue on top of its agenda during talks with India.

Pervaiz Rashid said that nobody could fight against terrorists if they had support from inside and “we have to deal with these insiders”.

He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is committed to track down the elements involved in crimes in Karachi.

"A large number of terrorist activities were preempted on the basis of intelligence reports," he added.

“Pakistan would continue to play its role towards curbing terrorism across the world”, he said.

He further said that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) supports the national policy for elimination of terrorism and that operation Zarb-e-Azb will continue without any interruption.

Replying to another question, the minister said corruption was a social nuisance and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had taken action and instituted cases against the corrupt in all provinces without any discrimination.