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DCC expresses full confidence in ability of armed forces
ISLAMABAD: The Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC) on Wednesday decided that coordinated efforts would be made to prevent and pre-empt acts of terrorism and security, defence and law enforcement agencies would be authorised to use all means necessary to eliminate terrorists and militants.
The DCC met under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Prime Minister’s House. Federal Ministers Senior Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Minister of State for Finance Hina Rabbani Khar, Chairman JCSC, services chiefs and Director General (ISI) attended the meeting.
This is the second meeting of the DCC in 15 days and was held in the backdrop of the recent terrorist attack on the PNS Mehran in Karachi. The DCC reviewed the security situation arising from the terrorist attacks as well as issues relating to regional security and stability.
The DCC expressed full confidence in the ability and capacity of the armed forces and law enforcement and intelligence agencies to meet all threats to national security. In opening remarks prior to starting deliberations, Prime Minister Gilani made it clear that “in today’s deliberations, we should also bear in mind the resolution unanimously adopted by the joint sitting of parliament.”
The chief of the naval staff and secretaries defence, interior and foreign affairs briefed the DCC on the terrorist attack on PNS Mehran, as well as on internal security and the regional situation.
After in-depth discussions, it was decided that all citizens should extend their full cooperation to security and law enforcement agencies and defence forces to eliminate the menace of terrorism. It was decided that national security was the foremost priority and all arms of the government would ensure that terrorist hideouts were destroyed using all appropriate means.
It was decided that national consensus on eliminating terrorism would be implemented through a well-coordinated and comprehensive strategy with the full support of the people and state institutions at all levels. It was decided that the DCC would continue to meet regularly to further update and closely monitor the implementation of Pakistan’s counter-terrorism strategy.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, PM Gilani said he wanted, through this forum, to send a message to the nation that Pakistan’s strategic assets were well protected and its capability to defend its sovereignty, territorial integrity and liberties of the people was very much in place.
“The incident [attack on PNS Mehran] is a serious threat to our security paradigm but with the help of our resolute nation, we will surely be successful in overcoming this unique challenge,” he said.
PM Gilani said the government was determined to take all necessary measures to protect the lives and property of citizens. “It is imperative that we take steps urgently to enhance our intelligence capabilities and improve system-wide coordination for averting attacks,” he said.
He said Pakistan was proud of the sacrifices of the martyrs of the Armed Forces and honoured them. Prime Minister Gilani said diversity and the quantum of challenges to national security demanded policy-makers leave behind conventional thinking and look for out-of-the-box solutions and carve out alternate strategies. “I strongly believe that we have the potential and resilience to face these challenges upfront and to meet the aspirations of our people,” the prime minister concluded.
Courtesy www.geo.tv