ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif last night ordered urgent internal security review.
Sources in the ruling PML-N informed The Nation that immediately after the suicide attack, PM Nawaz ordered inquiry into the matter. He directed Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan to identify the reasons of security apparatus’ failure in tracing and tracking down the culprits when Khanzada was already receiving the life threats.
On the other hand military top brass has also taken the matter seriously with Army Chief General Raheel Sharif in his condemnation statement on the attack on Punjab Home Minister directed the intelligence agencies to help find the perpetrators of the attack.
Sources in the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) informed that Premier Shairf would likely be calling a high-level meeting on security in a next couple of days, most probably the apex forum of Committee on National Security of the Cabinet would be used to revisit the security arrangements with the aim to plug the loopholes in the functioning of intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
A source in the government informed that Federal Interior Minister Ch. Nisar Ali Khan for quite sometime was stressing the point for activation of National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) the body not operational right now. The body was envisaged to provide a platform to pool intelligence agencies input and then to formulate a cohesive and effective plan to hunt down terrorists through law enforcement agencies.
The upcoming meeting on security matters would likely be taking some concrete measures toward activation of NACTA and surely Interior Minister Ch. Nisar Ali Khan would be pressing it in the meeting to be attended by both civil and military leadership, the source added.
Sources informed that Premier Sharif was very much disturbed over the suicide attack and termed it a big blow to the government’s efforts to improve law and order situation making the country attractive for more foreign investment.
It was more disturbing for the Premier that Punjab Home Minister was attacked even after he was receiving life threats for past several weeks probably following the killing of some top leaders of banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi a month ago in South Punjab in a police encounter.
Sources in the government further informed that there was general agreement that the civil and military intelligence agencies should coordinate and collaborate in their hunt of militants across the country but when it comes to practice there is minimal coordination between them. All what both the civil and military leadership will going to do in their upcoming meeting on security will be to bring all this in some formal agreement, most probably by activating the forum of NACTA into a real vibrant entity, these sources added.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a statement has said; “sacrifices of our brave nation and valiant heroes like Shuja Khanzda would decimate the designs of coward terrorists and they will be chased to their last hideout and eliminated with national resolve and unity.
He reaffirmed the commitment and determination of the government for pursuing the National Action Plan against terrorism with full force and directed for pre-emptive security strategy to counter the terrorist planning.
The Prime Minister urged the law enforcement agencies to not lower their guards till the elimination of last terrorist. He stressed for the change of tactics and go for preventive operational methodology.