Apex committee meeting: Terrorists will be flushed out, says Nawaz

Says country’s future and security are linked to NAP’s implementation

KARACHI:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said the government has no option but to win the war against terrorism, forecasting the elimination of this threat from every corner of the country.

“Terrorism will be eliminated from every nook and corner of the country, including the tribal areas,” the prime minister said in his opening remarks at Sindh’s apex committee meeting held under his chair at the Governor House in Karachi.

The meeting was held to review the progress on the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) and discuss matters related to the overall law and order situation in the province.

In the wake of the Peshawar tragedy, he said, the NAP was approved by the entire political leadership and the ultimate decision of the state was to eliminate terrorism from the country.

“Two of the 20 points of the NAP were implemented immediately while the rest of the measures have been left to the apex committees formed in all provinces,” he said.

The premier said some of the provinces are taking swift action to implement the NAP and are holding meetings of their respective Apex Committees on regular basis to assess the implementation process.

“However, a lot of work is yet to be done by other provinces,” he observed.

Under the NAP, PM Nawaz said, the 21st constitutional amendment was passed and Army Act was also amended. “The country’s future and security are linked to the NAP’s implementation,” he said,

“The whole nation is eyeing the tangible results of the NAP,” he added.

He said the meeting should be briefed about all problems being faced by the law enforcement agencies to help find their solutions.

The PM also spoke about the 2012 Baldia Town garments factory tragedy and termed it ‘a grave incident.”

Talking to The Express Tribune, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz provincial leader Nehal Hashmi claimed that the PM has directed the SIndh government to reinvestigate the incident in which more than 250 people had died.

It must be noted that Rangers had recently presented before the Sindh High Court a joint investigation team’s report, which claimed that Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was involved in setting the factory on fire.

Pakistan Peoples Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Sindh Governor Dr IshratulIbad, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief of Army Staff GeneralRaheel Sharif, the ISI DG Lt Gen Rizwan Akhter, Corps Commander 5Corps  Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, Sindh cabinet members, as well as  Sindh home secretary, interior secretary and IG Sindh were also present in the meeting.

Meanwhile, the PM also visited the Corps Headquarters in Karachi to meet the COAS General Raheel Sharif. The prime minister was briefed by Corps Commander Karachi Lt Gen Naveed Mukthar, said an ISPR press release.

The PM appreciated the ongoing intelligence-based operations in Karachi in support of Operation Zarb-e-Azb and the National Action Plan.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2015.