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Saturday, July 13, 2013
Clock is ticking on devising new national security policyFailure not an option in war on terror: PM
* Nawaz orders Interior Ministry to finalise the policy to curb terrorism in consultation with all the provinces on fast-track basis
By Farooq Awan
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday looked busy in weaving the fabric of new national security policy as he visited the Ministry of Interior to fine-tune the 33-page draft compiled by the National Counter-Terrorism Authority.
A day after making a rare visit to the ISI headquarters, the prime minister told officials at the Interior Ministry that failure was not an option at all in the war against terrorism.
“We are racing against time to save our country from terrorists,” the prime minister told the interior ministry as he ordered it to finalise the policy to curb terrorism in consultation with all the provinces on fast-track basis, a source at the interior ministry told Daily Times.
“Only a well thought out and workable operational plan can help us achieve the desired results,” said Nawaz, as he told the Interior Ministry to offer all-out support to the provinces to combat the anti-state elements.
The prime minister stressed the need to raise specialised units to check terrorism as well as criminal elements and announced provision of adequate funds to the law enforcement agencies to help them meet the challenges facing the country on the security front.
He maintained that the security agencies must evolve a mechanism to come up with hard intelligence that could be helpful in preventing terror incidents in the country.
“Restoration of peace and elimination of terrorism must be our top most priority. All the security agencies need to improve mutual coordination to deliver to the expectations of the people and the government,” the prime minister said, and added that national interest must stay supreme in all our actions.
On FATA situation, the prime minister directed the Interior Ministry to put in place effective controls to check the influx of aliens in the tribal areas. He said that killers of Chinese and other foreign tourists should be traced. He said his government is committed to provide a safe environment to all the foreigners working in Pakistan or those who enter the country for tourism.
The prime minister paid rich tribute to the Hazara community in Quetta for standing up against targeted attacks on them. “I salute the mothers and daughters of Hazara community who have raised their voice to condemn terror killings in Quetta” the prime minister said.
The prime minister paid rich tribute to the security forces and civilian law enforcement agencies for their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. He also paid tributes to the countrymen who sacrificed their lives or stood against the terrorists despite their brutal acts.
Interior secretary briefed the prime minister about the overall security paradigm and the steps taken by the Interior Division to strengthen the liaison between the provinces.
The meeting was attended Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz and Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk