Scope of joint anti-terrorism operations in Punjab to be expanded

RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif here Sunday chaired a Provincial Apex Committee meeting that resolved to root out militancy, terrorism, extremism and sectarianism from the country and expressed great satisfaction on the ongoing Army operation Radd-ul-Fasaad against terrorists, their facilitators and financial supporters.

The meeting was attended by National Security Adviser Lt-Gen Nasser Khan Janjua (retd), Lahore Corps Commander Lt-General Sadiq Ali, Provincial Minister for Counter Terrorism Colonel Muhammad Ayub (retd), Punjab Director General Rangers Major General Azhar Naveed Hayat, General Officer Commanding 10 Division Major General Sardar Tariq Aman, Punjab Chief Secretary Captain Zahid Saeed (retd), Inspector General Police Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera and Secretary Interior Major Azam Sulaiman Khan (retd) among others.

The meeting overviewed in detail all the ongoing counter terrorism operations by civil and military law enforcement agencies. The Provincial Apex Committee resolved to root out militancy, terrorism, extremism and sectarianism from the country and expressed great satisfaction on the ongoing Army operation Radd-ul-Fasaad against terrorists, their facilitators and financial supporters.

The meeting decided to expand the scope of joint operations of Rangers, CTD and Police and agreed to speedily increase activities against terrorists under the operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.

During the Apex Committee meeting, it was also decided to give fool proof security to mosques, Imambargahs and other places of worship across the province. The Provincial Apex Committee resolved to take indiscriminate action against terrorists and their facilitators, eliminate the mindset of militancy, extremism, and fundamentalism with full force and to root out the networks of terrorists and their facilitators.

The need to enhance cooperation with other provinces was also stressed in the meeting.

While chairing the Provincial Apex Committee meeting, the Chief Minister said that "we would not let the terrorists and their facilitators become successful in their evil intentions."

The Chief Minister said that brave and patriotic Pakistanis are determined to eliminate terrorism from their soil. "Our collective efforts would defeat the conspiracies of our enemies," he added.

"The abode for terrorists and their facilitators is hell and they have to face the consequences of their evil designs not only in this world but in the world hereafter."

The Chief Minister said that civil and military leadership of Pakistan is moving forward against terrorism with complete unity and are on the same page in this war against terrorism. The Chief Minister said that this war against terrorism would continue till elimination of last terrorist.

The meeting also reviewed progress on the ongoing counter terrorism operations by civil and military law enforcement agencies in the province.