Rehman Malik condemns Nawaz Sharif's Siachen statement

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister A Rehman Malik Wednesday said every inch of the country is sacred and Pakistan will never withdraw its army from Siachen unilaterally.

Talking to media after chairing a high level meeting, he castigated Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif for suggesting unilateral withdrawal of Pak Army from Siachen.

He said Pakistan will not initiate the withdrawal process, however we are in favour of resolving the issue through negotiations.

The high level meeting reviewed law and order situation and security of prisons.

The meeting was attended by Secretary Interior, Additional Secretary Interior, Provincial Home Secretaries, IGs, IG Prisons, IG FC and representatives of law enforcement agencies. The meeting decided several measures for enhancing security of prisons and improving performance of the staff.

He said the salaries and perks of prisons staff would be made at par with the police. Jails would be categorized as A, B and C and security cover would be determined as per category of the prison.

A high power Jail Reform committee has also been constituted.

Secretary Interior will head the committee, home secretaries and respective IGs would be the members of the committee. The committee has been assigned to report within four weeks, he said.

Security scanners would be installed in jails. The call record of prisoners would be maintained. POF Wah would be asked to provide weapons to prison police on deferred payments. National Police Academy would provide training facilities to 150 to 200 master trainers of prison police.

A quick reaction force would also be established in the vicinity of jails. Rangers/ FC would be deployed at Adiala jail. Prison service would be declared as essential service. Financial packages would be offered to the jail officials who sacrifice their lives in line of duty. All ATA cases would be heard inside prisons.

Rehman directed NADRA to conduct survey and scrutinize identity of all prisoners in the country for compilation of personal database of
prisoners. Summary would be moved soon to PM for providing service cadre to jail officials.

NOC for installing jammers to prisons authorities have been issued on Wednesday.

He appealed to nation to pray for lives of trapped soldiers in Siachin.

Responding to a question, he admitted that Bannu Jail incident was intelligence failure. The family of Osama Bin Laden would be deported after getting consent of their native countries. Pakistan will bear deportation expenses.

He urged to devise a common strategy to fight terrorism. He asked Afghanistan to seal the border with Pakistan. (APP)