PM, Punjab CM discuss counter-terrorism strategy’s implementation in Punjab.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will convene a high-level meeting on Tuesday to discuss steps to be taken on internal security, including the National Action Plan (NAP) on counter-terrorism.
Tuesday is also the deadline for all 15 sub-committees on the NAP to submit their counter-terror recommendations and blueprints to the premier.
According to sources, the PM might direct the authorities concerned to carry out the road maps of implementation of the anti-terror recommendations within a fixed time period.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif will attend the meeting. According to an official statement, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General (DG) General Rizwan Akhtar, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and all others concerned will also be in attendance.
In the meanwhile, the premier has reiterated the government’s firm decision to eradicate the menace of terrorism from the country “once and for all”, adding that the government would go to any extent for the purpose.
During a meeting between the premier and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Raiwind on Sunday, the two leaders discussed in detail the counter-terrorism strategy and its implementation in Punjab.
The Punjab CM briefed the premier about the decisions taken by the apex committee headed by him and comprising Lahore Corps commander, inspector general police, home secretary and others to operationalise NAP.
The premier said that the country has suffered a lot due to terrorism, adding that the thousands lives lost due to terrorist activities and the economic losses were beyond the absorbing capacity of the country. He regretted that the problem was not tackled at the beginning during dictatorial rule. He lauded the role of Pakistan Army and air force in eliminating terrorists.
The premier expressed confidence that with cooperation from Afghanistan, Pakistan would be successful in completely rooting out terrorists from its side of the border.
