Sharifs are in it to win it!

• PM Sharif grills Sindh Police for slackness, urges apex committees to promptly deliver against terrorism, says losing not an option
• Karachi Corps Commander complains to PM about Sindh govt’s inefficiency, says govt changed three home ministers in a month
• COAS calls for depoliticising police in Karachi, making recruitment process through apex committee, indiscriminate action against all criminals from political, religious or sectarian backgrounds

Addressing a meeting of the Apex Committee of Sindh in Karachi on Monday to review implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) for weeding out terrorism from the country, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that losing was not an option in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

“We have to win the war against terrorism at all costs to secure the country and future of coming generations. Failure is not an option, we have to win the war against terrorism,” the premier said.

He said that NAP had not been prepared by just a single party but had endorsement of all the political parties of the country, adding that two points, out of 20-point agenda, had been implemented immediately through the passage of 21st Constitutional and Army Act amendments for setting up special trial courts.

Sharif said that apex committees, formed in the provinces for NAP’s implementation, are regularly holding meetings for reviewing progress and taking decisions for implementation.

Sensitising the meeting about the sentiments of people who are looking forward for tangible results, country’s prime minister said that problems and impediments in NAP’s way of implementation had been clearly expressed in the meeting and hunt for solutions was underway.

The premier also termed the Baldia factory fire as a grave incident. “Justice should be served to the victims of Baldia Town incident,” he said, while asking the Sindh chief secretary for briefing.

Reviewing the progress of ongoing operation in Karachi, the premier also criticised the Sindh Police for not performing effectively in combating terrorism.

The meeting of the Sindh Apex Committee was chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and also attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Raheel Sharif, Karachi Corps Commander Lieutenant General Naveed Mukthar, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Sindh Governer Dr Ishrat ul Ibad, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali shah, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) DG Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar and other ministers.

COAS WANTS KARACHI CLEAN:

Addressing the occasion, COAS Gen Sharif said that action should be taken against all criminals without any distinctions based on political, religious or sectarian lines.

Stressing the need to depoliticise the police force in Karachi, the army chief said that there should be no political interference in postings and transfers of police officers. He also proposed to make all recruitments in law enforcement agencies through apex committee.

“Karachi plays an important role in the country’s overall economy. Peace in Karachi means peace in the entire country, for which effective measures are needed to be taken. The consensus of all stakeholders is critical for the peace of Karachi.”

The army chief said an atmosphere of peace was created because of the Rangers-led operation, and that political forces also needed to play their role for permanent peace in Karachi. He also urged improved coordination between intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

GEN SHARIF VISITS RANGERS:

Moreover, during his Karachi stay, Gen Sharif visited the Rangers Headquarters where he was given a briefing by Sindh Rangers Director General Major General Bilal Akbar over the ongoing operation and the city’s prevailing security situation.

Commending the performance of Rangers, police and intelligence agencies, Gen Sharif said that all possible resources should be provided to restore and maintain security and peace in the city, and that the army will go to any length to restore peace in Karachi, said ISPR DG.

ARMY, AGENCIES UP CLOSE WITH PM:

Earlier during the day, COAS Gen Sharif and PM Sharif separately arrived in Karachi to review the city’s security situation in the midst of a targeted operation to rid the city of criminal and terrorist elements as well as the implementation of the NAP in the aftermath of the attack on Peshawar’s Army Public School.

Upon his arrival at the Karachi Airport, the premier was greeted by Sindh governor and chief minister.

Prior to the provincial apex committee meeting, PM Sharif and COAS Gen Sharif also held a meeting at the Corps Headquarters Karachi.

The meeting was also attended by ISI DG Lt Gen Akhtar and Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Mukhtar who briefed the political and military leaders on the occasion.

According to reports, Gen Mukhtar told the prime minister that inefficient management of the Sindh government was hurting efforts against terrorism and was casing difficulties in running the matters of war.

Gen Mukhtar said that the provincial government has changed three home secretaries– Mumtaz Shah, Niaz Abbasi and Abdul Rahim Somro– in one month alone, causing difficulties in handling the matters.

The prime minister appreciated the ongoing intelligence-based operation in Karachi in support of Operation Zarb-i-Azb and NAP, according to a tweet by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Asim Bajwa.

PM MEETS ZARDARI:

Prior to the apex committee meeting in which the prime minister had invited PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari by virtue of PPP’s government in Sindh, Sharif and former president met at the Governor’s House on Monday and discussed a host of issues, including the country’s political situation, implementation of the National Action Plan and ongoing anti-terror operations in Karachi, North Waziristan and Khyber tribal regions.

According to sources, the two discussed security issues in the province as well as exchanged views of mutual interest.