ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday constituted a special committee for the implementation of the National Action Plan for counter-terrorism.

"I will personally supervise the implementation of the National Action Plan and will make sure that it is swift and effective," Prime Minister Nawaz said during a meeting on the plan, adding that Operation Zarb-i-Azb was in progress in the tribal areas and that another operation would be launched against terrorists in major cities.

Sources in the Prime Minister House told Dawn that the special committee would be chaired by the premier himself while other members would include Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Information Minister Pervez Rashid, Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Adviser to PM on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz.

Moreover, the premier directed Attorney General Salman Butt to consult legal experts, legal bodies and political parties to finalise constitutional amendments in connection with military courts.

The National Action Plan was drafted in the wake of the Peshawar school attack to chalk out a comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism. A parliamentary committee had been formed in this regard which evaluated the post Peshawar tragedy scenario and discussed necessary laws and amendments in relation to terrorism.

Govt constitutes federal counter-terrorism force

The government has constituted a federal counter-terrorism force with immediate effect.

Official sources told Dawn that the force would work under the Ministry of Defence. "The force would be deployed across Pakistan and would be responsible solely for countering terrorism."

The force would also keep contact with civilian, military-intelligence security agencies and its counter-terrorism wings.

As a part of the National Action Plan, the government has been working to stop printing and publication of hate material promoting sectarianism. Constitutional amendments would also be introduced before the Parliament which would regulate printing of such publications as illegal.

Furthermore, the State Bank of Pakistan has been directed to supervise anti-terror financing in Pakistan and freeze all accounts which were being used for funding terrorists.