Brainstorming session: K-P apex panel vows to eradicate terrorism

Army chief, provincial authorities agree to rid province of terrorism jointly

PESHAWAR: The all-new provincial apex com­mittee for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Fata held a brainstorming session on Monday with members swapping ideas on how to tackle the country’s security challenges down to the local level.

Besides the Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, K-P governor and chief minister, other senior officials of the provincial government, Fata Secretariat as well as Peshawar corps commander discussed internal security matters in the context of the National Action Plan. They also reviewed the progress of the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azb, Khyber-I and the plan to repatriate temporarily displaced persons (TDPs).

General Raheel paid rich tribute to the people of both the province and Fata for their “resilience and their sacrifices” in standing up to the terrorists, pushing them back and marginalizing them in society.

He pointed out that in the wake of Peshawar school attacks, the entire nation stands united in the effort to uproot the menace of terrorism and extremism. He assured the army’s full support for a judicious and speedy implementation of the National Action Plan to also deal with the terrorists’ abettors, facilitators and sympathisers from the entire province and Fata.

General Sharif also assured that the army will join hands with the political government and the Fata administration to accelerate the return of TDPs as per the already prepared plan in phases, beginning next month, and ensure their comprehensive resettlement.

He also announced plans to provide 4,000 AK-47 rifles to the Frontier Constabulary as soon as possible to build their capacity further.

Reciprocating the stance, the provincial governor and CM appreciated the support vowed to rid their province of terrorism and pave way for development and wellbeing of the people. Emphasising the importance of joint execution of a comprehensive security plan, both the provincial governor and CM vowed to work tirelessly to bring peace and stability back in the region.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2015.