ISLAMABAD   The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) government has almost completed spadework for the All Parties Conference to be convened in the first fortnight of the next month to finalise the national counter-terrorism policy.
Sources in the government informed that the matter of calling the APC on the subject would also figure in the Special Cabinet meeting on Monday (September 2) to focus on tackling the Karachi law and order situation and to decide on how to go about the much talked about targeted operation against miscreants in the port city.
Sources in the party said that the meeting to be held in Karachi could be termed as the preparatory session for the APC called in the first half of the next month to come up with the comprehensive plan to deal with the issue of terrorism across the country.
The final date of the APC would be decided keeping in view the availability of the leaders from all the mainstream political parties.
Lately the meeting of heads of all the Parliamentary Parties could not be held due to non-availability of Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan who went to London on private visit, terming the government initiative a futile exercise.
Once again it was not clear whether Imran Khan would attend the proposed APC or not but on the other hand PML-N leadership was firm on calling the meeting even if the PTI chairman would stay away.
Sources in the PML-N informed The Nation that the Monday meeting of the Cabinet in Karachi would primarily deal with the unrest and target killings in Karachi and the leadership of MQM, Governor and Chief Minister Sindh would likely attend the meeting on the special invitation of Prime Minister to come up with some tangible solution to the worsening law and order situation in the city.
A few days back Muttahida Quami Movement, the largest political force in the city, had come up with the demand of handing over of the port city to Army - a demand widely condemned by the political forces in the Parliament, especially Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah whose party was governing Sindh province.
The Interior Ministry’s report carrying the startling disclosure about Mohajir Liberation Army and presented in the Supreme Court would also figure in the special cabinet meeting although the Federal Interior Minister has announced to withdraw the same from the Supreme Court as it was not meant for the purpose but at the same time insisted on its validity.
This move would definitely have negative impact on the process of reconciliation between the PML-N and MQM and would pour water on the efforts so far made to bring the two archrivals close to each other.
Sources aware of the background developments taking place on this front informed The Nation that it was the earnest desire of Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif to take all the political forces along in devising a national strategy on counter-terrorism and he is even ready to go extra mile to bring all the stakeholders on board.