PESHAWAR: The Apex Committee Friday (3rd of Feb 2023) expressed determination to protect lives and property of the people at every cost and make an example of the terrorists who shed blood of Pakistanis.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the important meeting of the apex committee held here at the Governor House.

The committee assured the nation that those who attacked innocent Pakistanis would be punished and the government would come up to the expectations of the nation.

The meeting reviewed in detail the incidents of terrorism particularly the suicide attack on the mosque in Police Lines Peshawar on January 30 and its aftermath.

The officials of the intelligence agencies briefed the participants about the overall security situation and the action taken against the terrorists.

Inspector General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muazzam Jah Ansari informed the meeting about the update on the ongoing investigation into the suicide attack.

He told that they had identified with the help of the videos the method and route used by the attacker to enter the Police Lines.

The participants prayed for the elevation of ranks of martyrs in Jannah and for grant of patience and fortitude to the bereaved families and for early recovery of the injured.

While sympathizing with the affected families, the meeting assured that blood of the martyrs would not go waste and the government and the nation stood with heirs of the martyred.

The participants saluted the the armed forces, Pakistan Rangers, FC, CTD, police and other law enforcement agencies for their unprecedented valor against terrorism and paid tribute to the officers and soldiers who were martyred in the terror incidents.

The apex committee reiterated the resolve not to squander the sacrifices of the martyrs and successes achieved so far against terrorism.

The body appealed to media to keep up its responsible behavior while reporting on the issue of terrorism and not to become part of spreading any speculations particularly on social media as any such behavior was against national security, solidarity and unity.

The apex committee also reviewed the implementation the National Action Plan and also deliberated over the suggestions put forth for its improvement in accordance with the contemporary needs.

The meeting also gave an in-principle approval to the proposals for upgradation of NACTA, CTD and police, and provision of training, weapons, technology and other necessary equipment to them.

It was decided that a CTD headquarters would be built immediately in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a forensic laboratory would also be established there like the one in Punjab province.

Moreover, on the pattern of Lahore and Islamabad, a safe city project would be initiated in KP and the capacity building of the police and CTD would be carried out besides providing them with latest equipment.

The meeting reviewed the mechanisms of border management control and immigration besides deliberating over the processes of investigations against terrorists, prosecution and their conviction.

It was decided that all the state organs would work in complete cohesion and coordination and with utmost dedication for the elimination of terrorism and achievement of collective national goals. Necessary legislation would also be carried out in this regard.

The apex committee principally agreed to adopt a single approach and strategy by the center and federating units for elimination of terrorism and directed to formulate an effective strategy for the purpose.

The meeting decided to plug in all the sources of support to the terrorists within the country and instructed to carry out an effective screening for the purpose.

The committee decided that the zero tolerance for terrorism in all of its forms and manifestation would be the national objective and that all the said decisions would be implemented through a national consensus.

The participants lauded decision of the prime minister to call an All Parties Conference.

They expressed hope that the national political leadership will sit together to forge a way forward for eradication of terrorism and will take decisions through national consensus.

They appealed to the religious leaders and scholars to use the forum of their pulpit for elimination of terrorism.

They said ulema should inform the public about the categorical announcements of “Paigham e Pakistan” and religious guidance of sacred institutions about the fact that terror attacks were sinful and against the Quran and Sunnah.

The religious scholars should apprise that those who shed blood of innocent people have nothing to do with Islam.

Federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah Khan, Senator Azam Nazir Tarar, Maulana Asad Mehmood, Aminul Haq, Mufti Abdul Shakoor, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Adviser to Prime Minister Engineer Amir Muqam, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Haji Ghulam Ali, Caretaker Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Azam Khan, Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Khalid Khurshid, Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Tanvir Ilyas, leaders of political parties, community leaders, religious scholars, representatives of intelligence agencies and high ranking officers of police attended the meeting.

Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, chiefs of armed and civil forces, federal secretary Interior Ministry, chief secretaries, Inspector Generals of Police of all provinces, Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan and National Coordinator of National Counter Terrorism Authority were also present in the meeting.

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