Islamabad, August 18, 2021 (PPI-OT):Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said all security related departments are fully alert for maintenance of law and order situation on the occasion of Ashura. Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said additional security personnel have been deployed for the security of mourning processions. He said the mobile service has temporarily been suspended at some places for the security of the people.

The Minister asked the participants of the processions to adhere to the SOPs to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Strongly rejecting the Indian propaganda regarding Pakistan’s border situation, the Interior Minister said there is complete peace and tranquility at Torkham and Chaman borders which are open for movement, trade and transit visa facility. He however clarified that Pakistan has not received any refugee.

He said three buses with one hundred to one hundred twenty Pakistanis on board were cleared early this morning at Torkham border. He said six hundred and thirteen Pakistanis have so far been brought back from Afghanistan since 14th August. He said our effort is to bring back all those Pakistanis willing to return to homeland in the next two days. Sheikh Rashid said Pakistan has also evacuated about nine hundred diplomats and foreign media journalists from Afghanistan.

The Interior Minister said Pakistan advocates peace and a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan. He expressed the confidence that the situation will improve in Afghanistan. Sheikh Rashid said the government has completed three years in power and it will strive to address the problems of the people in the remaining two years.

For more information, contact:
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
Government of Pakistan
4th Floor, Cabinet Block, Pak. Secretariat, Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-9103557
Email: info@moib.gov.pk
Website: http://www.moib.gov.pk