Sada-e-Watan Sydney ™
sadaewatan@gmail.com
Islamabad
May 2009
Message to the Pakistani Diaspora
Dear brothers and sisters,
In my address to the Nation on 7 May 2009, I informed all Pakistanis that the
armed forces of Pakistan had been ordered to launch operations against militants
and terrorists in Swat and Malakand.
2. The Government of Pakistan cannot permit the continuation of the situation
brought about by the activities of militants and extremists. We are determined
to protect the life and property of all our people at all cost. There will be no
compromise on Pakistan's sovereignty and independence.
3. The PPP led Government has always pursued the path of reconciliation. We took
seriously the situation in Swat and made all efforts to resolve the issue
through dialogue. We respected the agreement signed by the NWFP Government. The
parliament gave its consent to the agreement. The President then signed it. The
agreement envisaged the enforcement of Nizam-e-Adl Regulations to assure peace
and justice to the people of Swat. The militants were to lay down their arms.
They did not keep their part of the agreement and started taking hostile actions
against the constitution, parliament, democracy and judiciary which amounted to
challenging the writ of the government. Their actions and rhetoric against women
and girls were reprehensible.
4. The aggressive actions of the militants have forced hundreds of thousands of
people in the Swat Valley and in other parts of NWFP to migrate from their homes
to elsewhere in Pakistan. These Pakistani brothers and sisters, young and
elderly, deserve our full attention and care. The Government has taken immediate
steps to address this humanitarian situation. This includes: (a) provision of Rs.
One billion to the NWFP Government for rehabilitation; (b) commitment to provide
employment to one member of the family that lost a member to the barbarity of
the militants. I have also asked for international support for assistance to
these displaced persons.
5. While the Government is committed to meet all needs, our resources are
limited. I call upon all my Pakistani brothers and sisters to assist the
Government of Pakistan in helping the internally displaced from Swat and other
parts of the NWFP.
6. The Prime Minister's Relief Fund for the internally displaced from Swat/NWFP
has been set up. I urge you to make generous contributions to help these
displaced brethren. Also, I have setup a special task force to coordinate a
comprehensive strategy aimed at meeting the relief, rehabilitation and
reconstruction requirements of the internally displaced. You may also wish to
provide support in kind.
7. At this critical moment in the history of Pakistan, all Pakistanis must show
their resolved to combat militancy, terrorism and extremism. Let us prove, once
again, that we as a nation are united to support the armed forces and the
Government of Pakistan to defeat their designs of those who want to take the
Pakistan of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal hostage. Let us work together to
realize the vision of Pakistan as a moderate, progressive and forward-looking
democratic Islamic state.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In order to get our society rid of extremists and terrorists, the Government has
instructed Armed Forces of Pakistan to launch operations against terrorists in
Malakand and Swat Region. While our efforts are succeeding, a large number of
people have migrated from Swat and Malakand to other places in Pakistan till
such time Malakand and Swat area is cleared of undesirable elements.
The Government of Pakistan is doing everything possible to provide relief to the
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) till such time peace is restored and people
return to their respective homes. However, it is also incumbent on all
Pakistanis whether living in Pakistan or elsewhere to help their brothers and
sisters in this hour of need.
In this regard a message from the Prime Minister, urging all Pakistanis living
in Pakistan and abroad to contribute generously to supplement Government's
efforts, is attached.
With best wishes & Regards
