- Intelligence Agencies working day and night to defeat enemy designs: Nawaz
- Nisar voiced his displeasure over Achakzai’s demand that PM should sack intelligence agencies officers if they fail to trace out elements involved in Quetta attack
ISLAMABAD, August 10: A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday agreed to expand the scope of combing operations in Pakistan to eliminate menace of terrorism.
The meeting was held in the backdrop of Quetta hospital carnage to review Pakistan’s internal security situation. According to sources, the meeting decided to take strict measures to stop terrorists’ financial support. The meeting was attended by Federal Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Ishaq Dar, Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, National Security Adviser Nasir Janjua, Secretary Foreign Affairs Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and other senior officials.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar briefed the participants that there has been progress regarding reforms in madrassas (seminaries) and the authorities are ready to conduct registration of madrassas under the plan. He said a meeting of religious scholars will be summoned to discuss the matter. The meeting also decided to summon provincial apex committee meetings to review the implementation of National Action Plan (NAP) on terrorism. Monday’s terror attack at Quetta civil hospital was the deadliest in Pakistan after Lahore’s Iqbal Town Park bombing that killed at least 72 people.
The motive behind the attack was unclear, but several lawyers have been targeted during a recent spate of killings in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, which has a history of militant and separatist violence.
Earlier on Tuesday, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif directed the commanders and intelligence outfits that they should further intensify the combing, and targeted operations with full vigour to eliminate terrorists and sleeper cells.
He also directed commanders to provide all necessary assistance to provincial LEAs in their capacity building through training, resourcing and planning so as to integrate them effectively in counter terrorism operations.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan’s intelligence agencies are working day and night to defeat designs of the country’s enemies.
Addressing the National Assembly two days after the carnage at Quetta Civil Hospital, the premier said Pakistan’s military and political leadership are on the same page to eradicate the menace of terrorism.
Nawaz said the mindset behind the Quetta attack was the same one that had targeted Pakistanis in numerous terrorist attacks in the past.
“This incident [Quetta attack] was properly planned,” said the PM, adding that “such a mindset does not want peace in the country, especially in Balochistan”.
The premier went on to say that Operation Zarb-i-Azb is a unanimous national agenda that will be completed at all costs.
Shortly after the premier’s address, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan took to the floor to enlighten the house on some key issues discussed in high-level huddles after the Quetta attack.
Nisar said while most political parties were against the introduction of harsh laws, stricter laws were needed to reign in those “who do not ascribe to any religion or law”.
Without naming anyone, the interior minister also voiced his displeasure over Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s address in the house a day ago, in which he demanded that the prime minister sack officers from the security and intelligence agencies if they fail to trace out elements involved in the deadly Quetta attack.
The PkMAP chief had termed the Quetta attack an intelligence failure and had demanded to fix the responsibility of the blast in a debate held on the subject in the National Assembly.-DNA/Agencies
