Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday called for devising a comprehensive and integrated strategy by all stakeholders to eradicate the growing menace of terrorism that threatens the very foundation of the country. The Prime Minister was chairing a high-level meeting on national security in the wake of current wave of terrorism.
He expressed dissatisfaction over present state of law and order situation in the country and directed that co-ordinated measures by provincial and federal law enforcement agencies should be taken to completely uproot the scourge of terrorism from the country, it is learnt.
He said though it was not possible to take preventive measures against suicide attacks but why nothing could be done to foil Liberty Market and Manawa attack which were not suicide attacks? The Prime Minister said just giving information about terrorists coming to a particular city or town was not enough. People could not be satisfied through issuance of condemnation messages after occurring of an incident.
He directed that all efforts should be focused to deal with the scourge of terrorism because it poses serious threats to the country. He said the time has come when all segments of the society should come forward and join hands to substantiate governments efforts to curb extremism, militancy, intolerance, sectarian violence and terrorism as the enemies of the state are bent upon eroding the very foundations of our county, challenging the integrity, security and national cohesion.
According to a statement, Gilani underlined the need for the provincial governments to involve the scholars in its efforts to deal with the menace of extremism and militancy. It was decided to hold the meeting on national security every month to review the situation. Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, NWFP Governor and DG FC will also attend the meetings in future.
The meeting decided that the provincial governments should monitor activities of banned organisations, misuse of loudspeakers and hate literature. The Premier called upon the media to play its due role in educating the people by highlighting the true face of Islam, which preaches tolerance, humility and protection of human lives.
The meeting discussed various preventive measures at length to effectively combat the tendency of terrorism and it was decided that the existing parliamentary committee on national security in its report will also incorporate the root causes of extremism.
It was also decided that the parliamentary committee would also asses the present threats, prepare a draft national policy to handle this extraordinary state of insurgency, devise a de-radicalisation programme to bring the religious elements to mainstream, devise ways and means to bring Madaris on mainstream and enhancing capacity building of law enforcement agencies.
The meeting decided that the committee would finalise its report within two weeks and while preparing the report, take on board Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Secretary Interior, Chief Secretaries and IGPs of the four provinces, Chief Commissioner and IGP of ICT, AJK and NAs, all home secretaries and DG FIA.
Those who attended the meeting included Prime Minister of AJ&K, Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan, Federal Minister for Defence Ahmad Mukhtar; Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, Interior Advisor Rehman Malik, Punjab Chief Minister Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, NWFP Chief Minister Mir Amir Haider Khan Hoti; Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raeesani, Secretary Interior, Chief Secretaries and Inspectors General Police of all the four provinces, Chief Commissioner and IGP of ICT, DG FIA and DG IB.
Earlier, AJK Prime Minister Chief Ministers of all the four provinces and Advisor Interior held a meeting with the Prime Minister in his office to discuss the overall political and law & order situation in the country.