High-level meeting on counter-terrorism plan underway

ISLAMABAD-

A high-level meeting of parliamentary leaders, headed by Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, to formulate a national action plan to combat terrorism in the country is currently taking place at the PM House, private media reported.

The country’s key leadership had unanimously decided to underline the action plan following the horrific Taliban attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, which left around 140 dead .

Chief leadership of the country including Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah,Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and senior PPP and MQM leaders  are part of the meeting.

Conveying the opening speech , PM thanked all the parties for their support and solidarity in the aftermath of the school attack.

“The way children were brutally killed…I don’t think there is any precedent in this country, or in the world. This is an extraordinary situation in the country which warrants extraordinary measures,” Nawaz said.

The premier added that, “Terrorism is a cancer-like disease and history will never forgive us if it is not treated now. The responsibility rests on all of us, and we have to take tough decisions against those who want to rip the country apart, those who are killing innocent children and have no mercy in their hearts.”

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar outlined some of the key points that would form the action plan against terrorism:

• Since police forces require time to train, the Pakistan Army will help and support provincial governments directly.
• 10,000 Army personnel will be deployed in all four provinces to assist provincial security forces.
• Implementation of Article 245 of the Constitution is vital for the Pakistan Army to operate in all provinces.
• Financing of terrorism and terrorist organizations must be stopped.
• The Federal Red Book of most wanted terrorists needs to be updated regularly.
• All terrorist organisations (including those under new names) need to be tackled.
• Civil and military understanding on the issue is critical. Consensus is needed when decisions are taken.
• Misuse of media by the terrorists has to end. The solution may come through a media code of conduct.
• If needed, a law may be made to blacklist people from appearing on-air. Severe punishments would be handed out against those media groups found violating the blacklist.
• Terrorist threats should not be aired as breaking news.
• The spread of online hate speech and content generated by terrorists needs to end. Regulation of the Internet is required.
• Greater regulation of explosives material is critical.
• An audit may be conducted within a month on all companies dealing with explosives with civilian and military coordination.

In today’s meeting, the recommendations made by the Anti-Terrorism National Action Plan Committee (ATNAPC) in Parliament House yesterday will be put forward for finalisation.  A day earlier,  the representatives of the country’s major political parties failed to reach a consensus on the establishment of military courts to try terrorists.