Government Pakistan decides to halt military operation in Ramazan

Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 1:08 am

ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to halt the military operation in tribal areas during the month of Ramadan.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik announced this while addressing a cyber crime seminar in Lahore on Saturday.

He said the temporary halt in operations was to allow civilians in the region to observe the religious festival.

The adviser also appealed to media that it should refrain from branding all those who commit suicide attacks on security forces as ‘heroes’. He said that there will be no operation from the night of August 31 till October 2. However, if the militants initiate any action then the security forces would react with full force, he warned.

Rehman Malik said that the step has been taken for the reverence of Ramadan. Rehman also maintained that peace and development work is still government’s priorities in these areas.

Rehman told media that a total of 562 militants have been killed in the operation.

If any of the suicide bombers is identified we would take action against his family and will attack his village.