APC likely to be held this month, says Nisar

Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan on Tuesday said an all parties’ conference (APC) was likely to be held this month.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Nisar said the government was working on an agenda for the conference while leaders of all political parties had also expressed their willingness to attend.

“We have done a lot of homework and are doing some more research,” he said, adding that the government had also talked to all security forces.

Nisar was due to submit a draft of his security policy to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on August 13.

He said at the beginning of the meeting‚ the military leadership would brief the political leadership and later the political leadership would discuss the agenda aimed at forging consensus on a strategy on terrorism.

Nisar said four options would be placed before the political leadership: “one, whether to continue pursuing the existing reactive approach to incidents of terrorism, two, whether dialogue should be held, can we go for a multi-pronged action including military operation or should there be a mixture of dialogue and action”.

He said whatever consensus was achieved by the political leadership‚ would be implemented by the government in letter and spirit.

Nisar said a joint policy on drone strikes would also be hammered out during the meeting.

He said it was also for the political leadership to decide about parameters and timeframe for dialogue‚ if to be held and also consensus on military action as army alone cannot fight the war without political support.

The interior minister said the government was determined to establishing its writ in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

He said a decision had been taken to de-weaponise Quetta and set up a security ring around the city. Similarly‚ a security plan for Karachi had also been prepared but the Sindh chief minister had been asked to implement it, adding that the federal agencies would be at his beck and call.

Nisar said a security plan for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had also been prepared in consultation with the provincial government.

Talking about the provisions of the national security policy, the interior minister said a counterterrorism rapid deployment force would be created to curb the menace of terrorism.

The preliminary draft of the National Security Policy envisages activation of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) and creation of Counter Terrorism Rapid Deployment Force.

Nisar said NACTA would serve as a focal point for internal security policy.

He said a joint intelligence secretariat would be set up in Islamabad on modern lines which will be represented by all intelligence agencies including the ISI‚ the IB‚ the Special Branch‚ the CID and provincial agencies.

It will work round the clock‚ analyse and sift intelligence reports and action would be taken within hours on the actionable intelligence.

Nisar said the aborted act of terrorism at Barakahu in Islamabad showed that terrorists were equipped with modern weapons and gadgets, adding that the police too would have to be modernised to foil their designs.

He said initially 500 serving or retired personnel of armed forces would form the Rapid Deployment Force but later its strength would be increased to 2,000.

“It will have the necessary latest technology including helicopters to react promptly when intelligence is received. In the second phase‚ similar forces would be raised in the provinces as well.”

The interior minister said the major burden of responsibility had to be shared by the provinces and their police but the federal government would supplement their efforts by provision of the FC and Rangers support.

Nisar said Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani had promised provision of 5,000 sub-machine guns for the Balochistan Police besides imparting of training to the police personnel of the province. “The sub-machine guns will start reaching the Balochistan Police in the next few days.”

The interior minister said preparations had also begun for introduction of legislation in parliament to strengthen counterterrorism efforts and political consensus would have to be evolved for the purpose.

Referring to India’s provocative activities on the Line of Control‚ the interior minister said Pakistan wanted peace however it was also ready for any eventuality.