Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah has promised military action against Taliban militants and brushed aside human rights fears about newly passed anti-terror law – the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance (PPO) 2013.
“The time has finally come to smash militant safe havens,” said the minister in an interview to US-based newspaper.
A meeting of PMLN parliamentary party held in Islamabad on Monday wherein a majority of the lawmakers voted to support a military operation against militants.
Sanaullah said a decision had been made to launch military operations but the army would be decide exactly what form any operation would take.
The opposition parties in National Assembly have opposed the PPO, warning that the new anti-terror law could turn the country into a "police state". The law allows set up of secret courts, greater shoot-to-kill freedom for the police and Rangers, house raids without warrants and the detention of terror suspects without charge for three months
Sanaullah said operations will be mounted in 174 areas across Punjab, he added.
