KARACHI: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said here on Monday that the government had no option but to win the war against terrorism because Pakistan’s future and security depended on eradication of this scourge from the country.

The prime minister spent a busy day during a brief visit to the city. He presided over a meeting of the Sindh Apex Committee at the Governor’s House and visited the Rangers’ and Karachi Corps headquarters.

The meeting, also attended by Chief of the Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari, reviewed implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) and the law and order situation in the province.

The prime minister said the action plan had been prepared in the wake of the Peshawar school massacre in agreement with all political parties to eliminate terrorism.

He said two of the 20-point plan had been implemented immediately and the rest was left to apex committees formed in the provinces.

The provinces are holding meetings of their apex committees on a regular basis to assess the implementation process.

Mr Sharif said some provinces were taking swift action to implement the NAP while a lot of work was yet to be done by others. He said the 21st Constitution Amendment was passed and the Army Act amended and the country’s future and security were linked to the plan’s implementation. “The entire nation wants tangible results of the NAP.”

The prime minister reiterated his government’s determination to root out terrorism not only from tribal areas but also from all over the country.

Sindh Chief Secretary Hotiana is reported to have briefed the meeting on the law and order situation, the targeted operation against terrorists, a 14-point Sindh policy based on the NAP and Baldia Town factory inferno.

Those involved in the Baldia factory fire will be given exemplary punishment

The prime minister was informed that the provincial government had approved the referring of 64 of the 84 terrorism cases for trial by military courts as recommended by the Sindh IG. The cases have been sent to the interior ministry for scrutiny.

FACTORY FIRE: During the briefing on a JIT report on the Baldia Town factory inferno, the prime minister is reported to have expressed his displeasure over non-completion of challan and directed the IG to complete investigation as soon as possible.

The incident, he said, was a big tragedy and the families of people killed were awaiting justice. Those involved in the crime would be given exemplary punishment.

Security institutions are waging a war to protect the country from terrorists. The nation, he said, could not afford confusion and, therefore, all political and religious forces and institutions would have to play an active role in eliminating the menace of terrorism.

He said the importance of Karachi for peace in the country could not be overemphasised and, therefore, tough decisions needed to be taken and implemented without any discrimination.

The prime minister was also informed about problems faced by law-enforcement agencies and the help it needed to solve that.

The meeting was attended by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, ISI Director General Lt Gen Rizwan Akhter, Corps Commander 5 Corps Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon and Murad Ali Shah, interior secretary and home secretary.

PML-N DELEGATION: A delegation of Sindh parliamentarians of the PML-N called on the prime minister at the Governor’s House. They discussed party matters and political situation in the province.

The delegation included Abdul Hakeem Baloch, Minister of State for Communications, and MNA Ayaz Ali Shah Shirazi, MPAs Shafi Mohammad Jamote, Irfanullah Khan Marwat, Aijaz Ali Shah Shirazi, Ameer Haider Shah Shirazi, Hussain Shah Shirazi, Ms Sorath Thebo and Humayun Mohammad Khan and office-bearers of the party Mohammad Ismail Rahu, Syed Nihal Hashmi and Saleem Zia and Senate candidate Ms Rahila Magsi.

Published in Dawn February 17th , 2015

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