LAHORE / ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has cancelled his visit to the Swiss city of Davos following a deadly attack on security forces in Bannu and decided to take a clear position with respect to militancy in tribal areas.

The prime minister took the decision at a meeting held at his Jati Umra residence on Sunday to brief him on the proposed metro bus project for twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

According to a participant of the meeting, Mr Sharif called Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali and asked him to contact all important political players and seek their opinion for evolving a joint strategy vis-à-vis militancy.

He said the meeting also discussed a proposal to convene an in-camera session of parliament for discussing the matter with all parliamentary parties.

A handout released by the PM’s Office in Islamabad said: “In the wake of recent spike in terror incidents and Bannu tragedy, the Prime Minister has decided to cancel his visit to Davos.”

Condemning the Bannu cantonment bomb attack, Mr Sharif said: “Our nation is united against extremism and terrorism and the sacrifices rendered by our citizens and personnel of law enforcement agencies will not go in vain.”

Opposition parties and media have been criticising Mr Sharif for his frequent foreign visits.

“It’s probably the result of so much hue and cry caused by his visits abroad that the prime minister decided not to go ahead with his visit to Switzerland soon after the Bannu attack,” a government source told Dawn.

In Davos, Mr Sharif was to attend a meeting of the World Economic Forum from January 21 to 25.