News
Saturday, August 31, 2013
PM lifts ban on new jobs in law enforcement agencies
Nawaz dissatisfied with performance of LEAs
* Directs Punjab to present comprehensive operational plan, raise
Counter Terrorism Force immediately to curb terrorismLAHORE: While expressing his dissatisfaction over the performance of law enforcement agencies, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday directed the Punjab government to present a comprehensive operational plan to curb terrorism in the province at the earliest.
“I have serious concerns regarding the capacity of civilian law enforcement agencies to detect and fight militancy,” the PM said while chairing a high-level meeting to review the progress on the formation of the Punjab Counter Terrorism Department.
Lifting the ban on any type of recruitment in law enforcement agencies, Nawaz Sharif said that the Counter Terrorism Force (CTF) should immediately be raised in the province to fight terrorism efficiently. He directed the authorities concerned to begin with the recruitment process within the next 10 days to speed up action against terrorists.
Nawaz said that the federal government would assist the provincial government’s CTF in all possible ways, including the provision of call data information. He stressed the need for an enhanced coordination and harmony among all state agencies for achieving the desired objective of uprooting terrorism. He stressed that the training imparted to the CTF personnel must be at par with the standards of the army.
The prime minister also directed all LEAs to trace terrorists, and the Punjab government to come up with an alternative plan to tackle terrorism. He advocated that eradication of terrorism was essential for economic development, peace and prosperity in the country. Underlining the need for more vigilance and proactive approach by the government to fight terror, Nawaz called for dedicating more resources for the cause.
He said that de-radicalisation must also be made part of the comprehensive counterterrorism strategy, and directed the Punjab government to come up with a comprehensive plan to overcome terrorism.
He urged all agencies to coordinate to overcome terrorism, and said the federal government would provide all possible support to provincial governments to curb terrorism. He said that terrorists wanted to destroy peace in the country, but “if the people unite, all conspiracies shall be foiled”.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja M Asif and Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah among other senior officials attended the meeting. They also briefed the prime minister on the establishment of the anti-terrorism force, and plans to deal with the menace of terrorism.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk