ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Tuesday that each and every citizen of Pakistan will be protected by the state, irrespective of their religion, sect or caste, and that no cause is holier than protecting the life and property of the people.

PM Nawaz was addressing a meeting in Islamabad to discuss matters relating to the scourge of terrorism in the country.

“We cannot forget and forgive atrocities committed by barbarians in Peshawar, Quetta and Wagha,” the prime minister said. “There will be no discrimination and exception in our war against terrorism.”

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also said he himself would lead the war against terrorism for his people and the country, and would take it to its logical end come what may.

Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, DG ISI, DG Military Operations, DG MI and DG ISPR attended the meeting which reviewed progress on Operation Zarb-i-Azb going on in North Waziristan and Khyber agencies and discussed modalities of the national action plan on counter-terrorism and extremism.

The meeting expressed the resolve to ensure swift and effective implementation of the approved action plan. Various short term and medium term steps required to be taken for eliminating terror networks in every nook and corner of the country also came under discussion.

On Dec 16, a deadly Taliban attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar left 141 people dead — including 132 school children.

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Meanwhile, the premier has also summoned a meeting of the parliamentary leaders on Wednesday at 11am to finalise the National Action Plan on Counter-Terrorism measures.

According to a PM House official, the meeting would deliberate on the suggestions put forward for an effective course of action against terrorism.

The meeting of the parliamentary committee was summoned in the wake of the Peshawar school tragedy in which 150 innocent lives, mainly of children, were lost.

The prime minister earlier canceled all his appointments on Tuesday to focus on ways to tackle the issue of terrorism and extremism and to purge the country of this scourges. He in this regard held meetings with his cabinet and legal team to study in detail the possible measures that can be taken to eliminate the threat.

It was unanimously decided that effective and immediate measures would be taken for the protection of lives and property of the people of Pakistan, the official said.

The premier had also lifted the moratorium on the death penalty, allowing capital punishment for those sentenced to death in terrorism cases in the wake of which six terrorists have been executed.

Explore: Anti-terrorism action committee meeting under way in Parliament House

Earlier in the day, PM Nawaz Sharif also held meetings to discuss counter terrorism measures with Army Chief General Raheel Sharif and other military officials.

They reviewed progress on the ongoing operations in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency. The military leadership informed Nawaz about their meeting with Afghan National Army and ISAF commanders at the General Headquarters.

The details of a national action plan also came under discussion. The participants showed resolve to eliminate terror networks from Pakistani soil.

Prime Minister Sharif said national unity was needed to defeat terrorists and their extremist ideology, adding that the blood of martyrs would not go in vain and the sacrifices rendered by the people of Pakistan were unparalleled.

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