Counter-terrorism strategy: Civil-military huddle convened tomorrow
PM will present to army chief final draft of proposed constitutional amendments to establish special trial courts
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has convened a high-level civil-military huddle on Tuesday to finalise a progress report on the 20-point National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism.
“The prime minister has convened a meeting on internal security where progress on the National Action Plan will be discussed by Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Rizwan Akhtar,” said a statement issued by the Prime Minister House on Sunday. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar ‘along with all-concerned’ will also attend the meeting.
Baseline for military courts
In Tuesday’s meeting the prime minister will present to the army chief the final draft of proposed constitutional amendments for the establishment of special trial courts and will seek his input on baseline of these courts, sources said. After the approval of the draft, the government will call a session of the National Assembly to get the bill passed in a few days.
On Saturday, legal experts proposed to the prime minister constitutional amendments as well as changes in the Pakistan Army Act 1952 to form special courts for speedy trial of terror suspects. However, they were unable to determine the courts’ baseline, ie, whether these courts should be established at the district level, division level, in major cities or at provincial level.
The prime minister’s legal team – comprising his special assistants Khawaja Zaheer, Barrister Zafarullah Khan and Attorney General of Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt who are in contacts with legal experts of other political parties – has committed that it will submit the final draft by Monday evening. The government will leave it to army to determine the baseline of the proposed courts, sources said.
Progress report of 15 subcommittees
The prime minister will also discuss and finalise reports of all the 15 subcommittees constituted on Saturday to prepare recommendations and roadmap for implementation of the National Action Plan. The committees have been given a 72-hour deadline and they have been strictly asked to submit their reports by Monday (today) evening.
The civil-military leadership after reaching a consensus on the roadmap for implementation will assign responsibilities of carrying out the tasks among concerned ministries and departments. They will also set a timeframe for the implementation of the National Action Plan and will finalise modalities for carrying out the tasks across the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2014.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has convened a high-level civil-military huddle on Tuesday to finalise a progress report on the 20-point National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism.
“The prime minister has convened a meeting on internal security where progress on the National Action Plan will be discussed by Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Inter-Services Intelligence Director General Rizwan Akhtar,” said a statement issued by the Prime Minister House on Sunday. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar ‘along with all-concerned’ will also attend the meeting.
Baseline for military courts
In Tuesday’s meeting the prime minister will present to the army chief the final draft of proposed constitutional amendments for the establishment of special trial courts and will seek his input on baseline of these courts, sources said. After the approval of the draft, the government will call a session of the National Assembly to get the bill passed in a few days.
On Saturday, legal experts proposed to the prime minister constitutional amendments as well as changes in the Pakistan Army Act 1952 to form special courts for speedy trial of terror suspects. However, they were unable to determine the courts’ baseline, ie, whether these courts should be established at the district level, division level, in major cities or at provincial level.
The prime minister’s legal team – comprising his special assistants Khawaja Zaheer, Barrister Zafarullah Khan and Attorney General of Pakistan Salman Aslam Butt who are in contacts with legal experts of other political parties – has committed that it will submit the final draft by Monday evening. The government will leave it to army to determine the baseline of the proposed courts, sources said.
Progress report of 15 subcommittees
The prime minister will also discuss and finalise reports of all the 15 subcommittees constituted on Saturday to prepare recommendations and roadmap for implementation of the National Action Plan. The committees have been given a 72-hour deadline and they have been strictly asked to submit their reports by Monday (today) evening.
The civil-military leadership after reaching a consensus on the roadmap for implementation will assign responsibilities of carrying out the tasks among concerned ministries and departments. They will also set a timeframe for the implementation of the National Action Plan and will finalise modalities for carrying out the tasks across the country.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 29th, 2014.