COAS stresses on new anti-terrorism laws

KAKUL: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has called for introducing better as well as stricter laws to deal with the menace of terrorism citing that entire world has formed new laws to punish the terrorists.

Addressing the Azadi Parade here at Pakistan Military Academy (PMA), he said, "We will have to put the past behind and look forward."

The general also said that no one was perfect, everyone made mistakes, some less and some more, but we should get over it.

He said the war on terrorism was not just Army's but the whole nation’s.

It's imperative that the entire nation was united, as the army could not succeed without the nation standing behind it, he added.

General Kayani said till now army and people have rendered great sacrifices at this front for which he paid great homage to martyrs, and their families.

He said these sacrifices would only be successful when civil administration would be able to take responsibilities without help of armed forces, adding it would take some time but it should be the ultimate goal.

The COAS seemed fully determined to improve situation in the terrorism-affected areas.

Army along with the government had so far completed economic and welfare projects worth Rs.25 billion, he said.

Gen Kayani said that Army would also spend as much for on more projects in the next two years.

General Kayani said that he realized that it was the most difficult task for any army to fight with its own people but it resorted to it when it was left with no other choice.

"Our actual objective is to restore peace in the affected areas. But it is necessary that all the people of Pakistan abide by the constitution of the country and its laws,” he added. (APP)