ISLAMABAD, July 20: A meeting presided over by President Pervez Musharraf on Friday approved ‘an all-encompassing strategy’ to combat terrorism, extremism and growing militancy in the country, particularly in the NWFP and tribal areas.
Sources said the meeting decided to provide ‘necessary financial and security support’ to NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani to restore law and order in the province.
NWFP Governor Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai, who briefed the participants of the meeting on the tense situation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), had asked for support, the sources said.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani, Vice-Chief of Army Staff Gen Ahsan Salim Hayat and other officials concerned attended the meeting.
It took into account the fallout of the military operation against Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa and its increasing effects in the NWFP and tribal areas.
“The meeting discussed all aspects of the current wave of violence and terrorism and took a number of important decisions to improve the law and order situation across Pakistan,” the President’s Media Advisor Rashid Qurashi told Dawn.
He said that NWFP chief minister gave a detailed briefing about the security situation in his province and sought necessary support to combat extremism and terrorism.
“The president agreed with various suggestions made by the chief minister and decided to extend him all the support of the centre”, he said. He confirmed that an all-encompassing strategy had been approved to deal with terrorism and militancy.
He said the meeting expressed hope that the chief minister and his government would ensure peaceful co-existence of all the people in the province so that the law and order situation could be improved.
Mr Qurashi said the meeting had decided to associate religious parties, ulema and mushaikh and the Wafaqul Madaras to assist the government in combating terrorism and eliminating religious extremism.
The president and the prime minister condemned the recent terrorist attacks and suicide bombings. They expressed their firm resolve to combat extremism, terrorism and militancy in all its forms and manifestations.
Sources said the president told the meeting that the writ of the government would have to be established by chasing terrorists and militants and that the government would not bow before their demands.
The president said there had been major improvement in the economy during the past seven years and if terrorist activities continued, it would hurt the investment climate. He said that without the support of the people, it would be difficult for the government to hunt down terrorists and militants, who, according to him, were all out to destroy peace in the country.
The meeting, the sources said, was also briefed about Tuesday’s suicide bombing in Islamabad.
