ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday called on Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani to discuss the country’s security, with emphasis on counter-terrorism efforts by the military and provincial law enforcement agencies.
“Shahbaz called on the army chief and whenever he meets General Kayani the discussion is only on the security situation,” Senator Pervez Rashid told Pakistan Today. A security official said the army chief discussed matters pertaining to the law and order situation in general, but the focus remained on the security situation in Punjab.
“In fact it was part of a series of meetings between the army chief and Punjab chief minister that have taken place in recent months, as it was decided to hold such periodic consultations aimed at improving security across the province,” he said.
He said it was also decided in earlier meetings that the level of intelligence sharing between Punjab’s law enforcement agencies and those under the supervision of the army would be enhanced. “The army chief and Punjab’s chief minister also reviewed the progress made on that front,” the official said.
Also, Interior Minister Rehman Malik called on the army chief to discuss the security situation. Malik informed the army chief about the steps being taken by the government to improve law and order across the country, the official added.
Malik later met US Ambassador Cameron P Munter, an official statement said. “The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere in which bilateral relations and matters of mutual interests came under discussion. The US ambassador appreciated the government’s efforts for elimination of terrorism and assured him the US’ all possible help in this regard,” the statement said.
The security official said the US ambassador also discussed with the Interior Minister the cooperation between Washington DC and Islamabad in the fight against terrorism. “It was resolved that counter-terrorism cooperation will be enhanced in the days to come,” he said.
