- PM Sharif and Gen Sharif say only courts will decide fate of those arrested during Karachi operation
- COAS briefs PM about undercover operations against banned outfits in Punjab
- Army chief apprises premier about meetings with US NSA Rice and US special assistant and discussions held over reconciliation process
- Gen Sharif says India has ‘crossed all limits to terrorise Pakistan’s civilian population disregarding international conventions and norms’
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Tuesday agreed that only courts will decide the fate of those arrested during the Karachi anti-crime operation regardless of their political affiliation.
Reiterating his government’s stance of owning the operation in the mega city which he termed entirely ‘apolitical’ and ‘indiscriminate’, the prime minister told the army chief during a meeting at the PM House that that the financial base of miscreants will be destroyed to free the country’s economic hub from the clutches of terrorists and supporters of anti-state elements.
Gen Sharif informed Prime Minister Sharif that under the National Action Plan (NAP), Punjab Rangers have also started covert operations against banned organisations in Punjab.
Sources privy to the details of the meeting said that the premier and army chief agreed that the modus operandi of sectarian outfits operating in Punjab is different from Taliban.
As part of internal security measures, the ongoing phase of Karachi Operation, ‘Pur Amn Balochistan’ and law and order situation in Punjab following the killing of Punjab home minister Shuja Khanzada came under discussion between the two, sources said.
According to the sources, the army chief also apprised the premier of the progress made so far in operation Zarb-e-Azb against militants in North Waziristan tribal region, which entered its last phase last month with the launch of a ground offensive in Shawal Valley.
LOC SKIRMISHES:
Moreover, Gen Sharif also discussed the security situation at the Line of Control (LoC), Working Boundary (WB) and the western boundary of Pakistan.
At least eight people were killed on Friday in villages along the WB in the bloodiest ceasefire violations by India this year.
Gen Sharif, who had dashed to Sialkot after the incident, said Indians had “crossed all limits to terrorise Pakistan’s civilian population disregarding international conventions and norms”.
Decrying the attacks on civilian population as a “cowardly act”, the army chief said there was “definite linkage between terrorism being sponsored by India in various parts of Pakistan and belligerence along LoC and WB”.
US, AFGHAN AFFAIRS:
Furthermore, the army chief also apprised the premier about his recent meetings with foreign dignitaries, including US National Security Adviser Susan Rice and US Special Assistant to President Obama for South Asian Affairs Dr Peter Lavoy.
Although Rice met both PM and the army chief, the delegation led by Dr Lavoy held a meeting with only Gen Sharif. “During the meeting, the Afghan reconciliation process was discussed comprehensively,” a source said.
“Gen Sharif informed PM Sharif about the road map for the resumption of reconciliation process which was agreed at the meeting between army chief and US delegation,” the source further said.
The second round peace talks between Afghan Taliban and the government in Kabul were suspended following the news of Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar’s death and a recent wave of terrorist attacks in Kabul.
KARACHI CORPS COMMANDER MEETS SINDH CM:
In a related development, Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar called on Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and discussed issues pertaining to the security operation being conducted in Karachi.
The chief minister and the corps commander also reviewed implementation of apex committee decisions related to the overall law and order situation.
