A high-level meeting on law and order chaired by PM Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday discussed immediate and long-term measures to tackle the menace of terrorism and directed the provincial and federal intelligence agencies to strengthen their network.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said there is a nexus between the militants and some of the terrorist organisations and directed the provincial and federal intelligence agencies to strengthen their intelligence network and closely monitor and watch the activities of these organisations as the country could not afford to be complacent.
He said the whole nation is united against the evil forces that are out to terrorise the society to get their demands accepted. He said that failure is not an option despite the ferocity of these attacks. Gilani assured the nation that the government will not allow terrorists to get away with their cowardly acts and is committed to uprooting militancy and intolerance from society and all those who challenge the writ of the government will be dealt with an iron hand.
The meeting on national security situation was convened to evolve a comprehensive strategy and discussed the immediate and long-term measures presented by various agencies towards eliminating the scourge of terrorism and extremism from the soil. The Prime Minister reiterated that the military operation in South Waziristan will continue till its logical end.
The meeting reviewed immediate strategy formulated by various intelligence and law enforcement agencies to make South Waziristan operation a success. While lauding the role of media in formulating public opinion against terrorism and extremism, the meeting urged them not to glorify terrorists and acts of terrorism in any form and to avoid live coverage of such incidents as it created panic and despondency in the public and strengthened the motives and evil designs of terrorists.
The Prime Minister also implored the political forces, public representatives and opinion leaders to mobilise public opinion for the unity on the most significant challenge to the national security. He assured that requirements of all agencies actively involved in the combat against militants would be meted out on priority basis.
The Prime Minister said the country is engaged in a war to free the nation from the menace of terrorism that has destroyed the peace of the land, bruised the economy and most importantly threatened the freedom of our people. The wave of militancy, he said has adversely affected every segment of the society.
The Prime Minister said the challenges are great and possibly the sacrifices may be higher, but he said the leaders and people should forge unity in their ranks and to have faith and patience to surmount this challenge once again. The Prime Minister directed to reopen education institutions after ensuring full security arrangements.
Referring to the successful military operation in Swat and Malakand, he said that despite difficult terrain and the loss of valuable lives of officers, Jawans and our paramilitary forces, the government was able to restore peace and tranquillity to the beautiful valley of Swat, within the shortest possible time.
The need for a consensus like Malakand operation is all the more vital today, as we tackle the militants, in their own backyard, ie South Waziristan being inhabited by all kinds of foreign mercenaries.
The Prime Minister said the damage assessment in the affected areas of Malakand and Swat have been conducted and completed and the reconstruction phase is about to commence. He said that Rs 50 billion has been earmarked for the purpose. He assured the meeting that the victims of the military operation in South Waziristan would also receive similar assistance. Simultaneously, the Special Support Programme for the IDPs is fully under way to facilitate the resettling of the stranded families to safer places.
He said till date almost 120,000 plus persons have migrated to avoid the fighting. They are displaced in DI Khan and Tank. "We will provide them cash ie Rs 5,000 per month besides other ration and relief items, that are necessary, he said." Rupees 2.5 billion have been released to Fata secretariat, for the IDPs of South Waziristan, he added.
Paying tribute to the brave armed forces, which struck the core of hard-line militant activity, the Prime Minister said the stakes have become higher and consequently, we are witnessing this surge in acts of terrorism. He said the blood of martyred would not be wasted as the whole nation is united to make Pakistan a peaceful country.
The target killing of a senior military officer and his driver is meant to create panic and to paralyse everyday life. Early today the terrorists have struck again at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex Kamra. My heart bleeds for the Shaheeds, who have given their lives for our protection and for future generations.
In his briefing, the Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani said the ongoing military operation in South Waziristan is moving ahead successfully towards their desired objective while trying to ensure minimum collateral damage. Minister for Interior, Rehman Malik also gave an overview of the law & order situation.
Gilgit-Baltistan Governor Qamar Zaman Kaira, Prime Minister AJ&K, Raja Farooq Haider and heads of various law enforcement agencies also briefed the meeting about various immediate measures taken by their respective departments to thwart any terrorist attack.
Earlier, Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Minister for Defence, Minister for Interior, Minister for Information, Minister for Finance, Sardar Zulfiqar Ahmad Khosa, Chief Ministers of Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan held a separate meeting with the Prime Minister.
The meeting was attended by Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Minister for Defence; Senator Rehman A Malik, Minister for Interior; Shaukat Tarin, Minister for Finance, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider, Prime Minister of AJK, Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khosa, Acting Chief Minister of Punjab, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister of Sindh, Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, Chief Minister of NWFP, Nawab Aslam Raisani, Chief Minister of Balochistan, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha Major General Muhammad Khalid, COS - Southern Command, Major General Muhammad Zaheer ul Islam, DH(c) ISI, Major General Masood ul Hassan, DG PS, Major General Athar Abbas, DG ISPR, Major General Muhammad Asif, DG MI, Major General Javed Iqbal, DG MO, Major General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, DG SD, Major General Liaquat Ali, DG Rangers Sindh, Major General Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, DG Rangers Punjab, Major General Saleem Nawaz, IGFC Balochistan, Major General Tariq Khan, IGFC NWFP, , DG ISI, Lieutenant General Muhammad Mustafa Khan, Chief of General Staff, Brigadier Javed Ashraf, COS-ASFC, Brigadier Muhammad Maqsood Ahmed, COS-AAD Comd, Brigadier Ikram ul Haq, COS -31 Corps, Brigadier Ali Abbas Haider, COS-30 Corps, Brigadier Aamir Riaz, COS -11 Corps, Brigadier Iqbal Asi, COS-10 Corps, Brigadier Sohail Ahmad Khan, COS-5 Corps, Brigadier Tariq Ghafoor, COS-5 Corps, Brigadier Sadiq Ali, COS- 2 Corps, Brigadier Asim Saleem Bajwa, COS-I Corps Mrs Nargis Sethi, Principal Secretary to PM, Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Secretary Interior, Javed Mahmood, Chief Secretary Punjab, Javed Iqbal, Chief Secretary, NWFP, Nasir Mahmood Khosa, Chief Secretary, Balochistan, Tariq Saleem Dogar, IG Punjab, Sultan Salahuddin Babar Khattak, IG Sindh, Malik, Naveed Khan, IG NWFP, Syed Javed Ali Shah Bukhari, IG Balochistan, Javed Noor, DG, IB, Tariq Mehmood Khosa, DG, FIA, Khalid Sultan, Chief Secretary AJK, Nadeem Hassan Asif , Home Secretary, Punjab, Javed Iqbal, IG AJK, Arif Ahmad Khan, Home Secretary, Sindh, Fayyaz Ahmad Toru, Home Secretary, NWFP, Mr Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad, Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan, Captain (r) Muhammad Usman Younas, Home Secretary B&G and WG CDR Tariq Ahmed Lodhi (r), DG NCMC Syed Kalim Imam, IG Islamabad, Fazeel Asghar, Chief Commissioner , Islamabad, Saeed Tehsin Anwar Ali Shah, IG Gilgit- Baltistan, Akbar Durrani, Home secretary, Balochistan.
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