Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that the government will not only go after terrorists, but also those abetting them.
He made these remarks while addressing a high-level meeting at the PM House to review progress on the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP).
The premier added that there is no room for error in the fight against militancy and the government must succeed at all costs.
“We are not only going after the terrorists but also those who are abetting them,” Nawaz said.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, KP Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malek Baloch attended the meeting along with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Raheel Sharif, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence Major Rizwan Akhtar and other army officials. KP Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif were also present.
Addressing the meeting, the premier underscored that the NAP was a joint effort among all leaders in the country. He stressed on its implementation in letter and spirit.
“It is an agenda which we have to implement,” the premier said. “We all have to work together hand-in-hand and whatever support the Federal government can lend to the provinces, we would be very happy to lend that support.”
He further said that apex committees have been constituted in all provinces and these committees will meet regularly to further implement the NAP.
He said cases are being selected through a process for special trial courts. The apex committees set up in the provinces are also meeting regularly to speed up implementation of the national action plan.
Nawaz Sharif said effective implementation of National Action Plan is the key to avoid sanctuaries to terrorists on any part of the country.
He said capacity building of all law enforcing agencies is the government’s foremost priority to achieve this objective. The Prime Minister directed that transfers and postings in police department should be done on merit in a transparent manner.
Earlier, chief ministers and chief secretaries briefed the Prime Minister about progress on the implementation of National Action Plan in their respective provinces.
In his remarks, the Punjab chief minister stressed the need to win the war against terrorism at all costs for the development and prosperity of the country. He said the entire nation is united against terrorism and will avenge every drop of blood rendered by the people and security forces in fight against terrorists.
The COAS took the PM into confidence over his recent visit to the UK where extensive consultations took place with British authorities on cooperation in counter terrorism. Army officials are also expected to apprise the meeting on steps being taken for the establishment of military courts in the country.
The army chief also briefed the participants about establishment of military courts and other measures being taken to implement NAP.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan briefed the meeting about the implementation status of the plan.
The meeting also discussed the issue of registration of Afghan refugees.
The National Action Plan was drafted in the wake of the Peshawar school attack to chalk out a comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism. A parliamentary committee had been formed in this regard which evaluated the post Peshawar tragedy scenario and discussed necessary laws and amendments in relation to terrorism.
The government had also constituted a federal counter-terrorism force with immediate effect.
