ISLAMABAD - The All Parties Conference (APC) on Monday (today) would discuss the counterterrorism policy formulated by the ruling PML-N and implementation modalities of the first-ever policy conceived by any government since Pakistan’s joining the US-led war on terror.
Well-placed sources told The Nation on Sunday that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan would present the proposed policy, proposing short, medium and long-term measures, including engaging in peace process through Taliban as well as enhancing capability of the law-enforcement agencies in countering the challenge with iron fists.
Sources further said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his team were very upbeat about the high value of the event because of the fact that political players, including opposition parties, were on the same page on the question of rooting out terrorism.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan sounded hopeful, saying the APC would pass a consensus resolution setting future strategy on security.
“It is a matter of satisfaction that the leaders of all the parties have agreed to attend the meeting. Four leaders were scheduled to go abroad, but they have either postponed or cancelled their trips,” he told a press conference on Sunday.
He said after an initial statement from the prime minister, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general and the chief of army staff would brief the political leadership about the overall security situation in Pakistan. The minister said he had held discussions with the leaders and hoped a comprehensive resolution would be passed at the APC. He appreciated the political leadership for its patriotism and extending cooperation to the government on the issues of national importance.
Nisar said the Rangers-led operation in Karachi was going well, with very active mobile patrolling. Rangers had conducted 64 targeted raids while police had undertaken 80 raids, arresting a large number of target killers and extortionists, he disclosed. Weapons, including automatic guns, pistols, bombs, repeaters and live ammunition, were also recovered, he revealed.
The minister said raids were conducted in the areas of Landhi, Malir, Frontier Colony, Gizri, Jubilee Chowk, Colony Town and Yousaf Goth on the basis of lists of criminals provided by the intelligence agencies.
He said it was appreciable that during the last four days the rate of heinous crimes, including target killings, extortion and kidnappings for ransom, had come down by one third in Karachi.
He said the federal government had decided to take action in Karachi after extensive discussions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with people from all walks of life during his two-day visit to the provincial capital this week.
He said though the situation in Karachi was very difficult and complex, the armed forces led by Rangers were capable of handling it. It would have been a mistake to bring the army on the streets of Karachi as it had already been deployed in various parts of the country, he added. He was sure that all needs of the law-enforcement agencies would be fulfilled and the police revamped to improve its performance.