ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday stressed that the responsibility of fighting terrorism lies with all federal and provincial governments, as well as institutions, calling for a collective and coordinated approach to eliminate this menace from the country.
“It is a joint responsibility of all of us to enforce the state’s accountability fully and without exception,” the prime minister said during a meeting of the Apex Committee of the National Action Plan.
Chief ministers of all the provinces, federal ministers and senior military officers were also present in the meeting.
The prime minister went on to say that terrorism had plagued Pakistan for two and a half decades in various ways. The issue of terrorism in Pakistan, he said was very complex noting there was a deadly relationship between terrorism and crime, smuggling, drugs, extremism and religious hatred.
He stressed that stability and the rule of law were essential for the sustainable development of the country. He viewed a soft state can never win the confidence of the investors, and a healthy and strong economy cannot be imagined in a country hit by instability and terrorism.
The prime minister added that all the institutions and provincial governments were depending solely on the Pakistan Armed Forces to fight against terrorism absolving themselves of any such responsibility.
He said that Pakistan’s Armed Forces have been shedding their blood for decades, offering unmatched and countless sacrifices adding a sustainable stability could not be guaranteed without a complete system.
He emphasized that all law enforcement agencies, federal and provincial governments, ministries and institutions must work jointly to eradicate the menace of terrorism.
The prime minister said that after the 18th amendment in the constitution, the provincial governments had a big role in this regard as they now receive all the required resources in this regard.
Pakistan needs harmony
He said Pakistan needs harmony among all the stakeholders including the political and religious leaderships to put the country on the path of peace and prosperity.
He added the political and religious leadership must be clear in their mind that this was our war to safeguard the future of generations to come.
Shehbaz Sharif strongly believed that irrespective of all differences, we should take this responsibility and support our armed forces in this regard. Besides, he said that active diplomacy would also be required to take action against the terrorist elements outside Pakistan.
The prime minister also stressed the need for legislative action to empower law enforcement agencies, identifying the existing legal gaps as a major obstacle to effective counter-terrorism operations. He also assured the Pakistan Army and the Ministry of Interior to provide all possible resources to support the fight against terrorism.
PM Shehbaz strongly rejected the ongoing campaign against Pak-China ties terming it a baseless and malicious social media-driven dirty campaign designed to destabilise Pakistan.
