QUETTA: The Balochistan Apex Committee, which held its first meeting on Friday, reviewed counter-terrorism steps being taken under the National Action Plan (NAP) and took a number of decisions for maintenance of law and order in the province.

The meeting presided over by Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was informed that military courts would soon be functional in the province for ensuring speedy justice. Officials concerned informed the meeting about the cases to be tried by military courts.

Also read: Eight terrorists killed within one week, says Balochistan home minister‏

The meeting decided that with the cooperation of clerics hate speeches and literature would be removed from the province and action would be taken against those who continued to sell such material.

It was also decided that the Apex Committee would meet every 15 days so that steps being taken for the elimination of terrorism could be reviewed.

The meeting was attended by Commander of Southern Command Lt Gen Mohammad Naseer Khan Janjua, Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, Chief Secretary Saifullah Chattha, Inspector General of Frontier Corps Maj Gen Mohammad Ejaz Shahid, Inspector General of Police Mohammad Amlish Khan, Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani and other senior officials.

The chief minister said it was for the first time in the history of the country that all political forces and the military leadership had come on the same page to eliminate terrorism from the country. He said the government would ensure implementation of all points of NAP so that the country could get rid of terrorism.

Mr Baloch said the country was passing through a critical phase of its history and the whole nation stood with the political and military leadership in the fight against terrorism. The menace of terrorism will be defeated with the cooperation of the masses. No group would be allowed to enforce its political agenda through gun and violence, he added.

The chief minister said that because of better coordination between different departments of provincial government and security agencies the situation in the province had improved to a great extent.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2015

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