The Apex Committee, which met on Friday in Peshawar in the wake of the Peshawar mosque blast, has decided that zero-tolerance for all types and forms of terrorism would be the national motto.
“National consensus will ensure the implementation of these decisions,” the press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office at the conclusion of the meeting said.
The meeting was attended by the prime minister, Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir, federal ministers, political, military and religious leaders and the police chiefs of all the provinces. Representatives of state institutions also briefed the meeting on the overall security situation and operations against terrorists.
Participants reviewed recent terrorist incidents, particularly the Peshawar blast, in detail.
The committee agreed that the federal and provincial governments would adopt a uniform strategy to eliminate terrorism and ordered an effective strategy to be prepared in this regard.
“The committee also agreed to eliminate all sources of support for terrorists within the country and directed effective screening in this regard.”
The official handout said that officials decided to “immediately” construct a CTD headquarters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in addition to a modern forensic laboratory. Furthermore, the statement said a Safe City Project would also be launched in the province.
It considered steps to be taken against terrorists regarding their investigation, prosecution and punishment on border management control and immigration system.
“It was agreed that all the organs of the state must work in perfect harmony, cooperation for the eradication of terrorism. Legislation will be made as per the need in this regard,” it said.
The implementation of the National Action Plan and suggestions for improving it in light of the current situation was also discussed.
The huddle gave “in-principle approval” to proposals regarding the upgradation, training and provision of arms, technology and other necessary equipment to the National Counter-Terrorism Authority, CTD and police.
KP Inspector General (IG) Moazzam Jah Ansari briefed the committee on the investigation and progress of the Peshawar suicide attack. He added that the method of the attacker’s arrival and the route by which he came were identified through video footage.
Participants assured the nation that the terrorists who shed the blood of Pakistanis would be “made a lesson [and] those who attack innocent Pakistanis will be punished in any case”.
The moot demonstrated a firm commitment to ensure the safety of life and property of the nation “at any cost”, adding that the nation’s “hopes and trust will be fulfilled”.
The committee also paid tribute to law enforcement agencies and martyred security personnel for “showing unprecedented bravery and bravery against terrorism” and reiterated the resolve that their sacrifices would not be in vain.
It appealed to all segments of society, particularly the media, to refrain from spreading baseless speculation and exhibit national responsibility towards treating terrorist incidents.
It also urged the scholarly and religious community to use their relevant forums to put an end to terrorism and raise public awareness about the impermissibility of such acts.
PM Shehbaz in a Twitter thread said that civil & military leadership at the Apex Committee meeting expressed “unflinching resolve to protect the people of Pakistan at any cost”.
“The State will adopt zero tolerance policy against terrorism. The meeting agreed to institute implementation mechanism for the decisions,” he said.
PM Shehbaz Sharif expressed a firm resolve to fight terrorism in the country while address a meeting of the Provincial Apex Committee in Peshawar on Friday. Members of the provincial administration, military leadership and political leaders attended the event.
“We have to fight terror jointly,” he told the meeting. He added that it was a ‘make or break’ moment for Pakistan.
He also questioned why the Counter Terrorism Department and forensic labs had not been set up in the province despite billions being contributed by the Federal government.
He said that the KP governemtn had received Rs417 billion in the last 13 years but still did not have satellite forensic labs. He als said that his government in Punjab had set up the CTD for Rs. 2.5 billion, and the Safe City project for Rs14 billion.
He also announced aid packages for those killed and injured in the Peshawar blast, with Rs2 million going to the families of policemen killed in the blast and Rs500,000 to those injured int he blast.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has announced that it will not attend the meeting of the Provincial Apex committee called by PM Shehbaz Sharif in Peshawar on Friday to discuss the recent surge in terror attacks.
The meeting will be held Governor House, Peshawar and the country’s top civil and political leadership will join heads to discuss ways to deal with the new wave of terror engulfing the province.
The army chief and heads of intelligence agencies will be present at the meeting. Invitations have also been extended to major political parties including the PTI, who have now declined to attend.
Reports said that Asad Qaiser and Pervez Khattak had been invited to attend the meeting. The invite was declined because the PTI considers the government’s outreach to be based on ‘insincerity’.
The ANP will be represented by Aimal Wali, the PPP will be presented by Muhammad Ali Shah and Faisal Karim Kundi.
The chief secretary and IG police of the province will be attend the meeting along with federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Marriyum Aurangzeb.
The meeting will discuss the latest wave of terrorism, with special emphasis on last Friday’s attack on a mosque in Peshawar. THe preparedness of police to deal with terror realted incidents, including personnel strength and equipment, will also be discussed.
The provincial apex committees were set up in 2015 to oversee the implementation of the National Action Plan, the civil-military leadership’s attempt to formulate a national response to terrorism after the deadly attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar.
The PTI staged peace protests across KP after Friday prayers against the recent terror attacks in the province.
The protests were held in Mardan, Swabi, Charsadda, Bannu, Mohmand and Bajaur. “The peace achieved by the martyrdom of thousands will not be allowed to be undone,” PTI’s Murad Saeed said.
