Shehbaz Sharif led a meeting of the Central Apex Committee on the National Action Plan-2024!

Central Apex Committee

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif led a meeting of the Central Apex Committee on the National Action Plan in Islamabad on June 22, 2024.

The attendees included key ministers of the federal cabinet such as the Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Interior Minister, Finance Minister, Law Minister, and Information Minister. In addition, the Chief Ministers of all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, Services Chiefs, Chief Secretaries of the provinces, and other senior civilian, military, and Law Enforcement Agencies officers were present.

The gathering conducted a thorough review of the ongoing counter-terrorism efforts and evaluated the internal security landscape. The progress on various aspects of the National Action Plan was analyzed, with a specific focus on identifying implementation shortcomings to address them as a matter of urgency. The need for a comprehensive and revitalized counter-terrorism strategy, based on national consensus and coordinated efforts across all levels, was emphasized.

AZM-E-ISTEHKAM

The Prime Minister gave the green light to a strengthened national counter-terrorism initiative with the launch of Operation AZM-E-ISTEHKAM, endorsed by all stakeholders including the Provinces, Gilgit Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. This operation symbolizes the nation’s determination to eradicate extremism and terrorism from the country.

Under AZM-E-ISTEHKAM, various strategies will converge to combat extremism and terrorism decisively. In the realm of politico-diplomacy, efforts will be intensified to limit terrorist operational capabilities through regional cooperation. The armed forces will ramp up kinetic actions with full support from all Law Enforcement Agencies, bolstered by effective legislation to address legal gaps hindering the prosecution of terrorism-related cases.

Extremism and Terrorism

The initiative will also encompass socioeconomic measures to address legitimate grievances and create an environment that discourages extremist ideologies. The information domain will be used to promote a unified national narrative supporting the campaign.

The gathering reiterated that the fight against extremism and terrorism is a crucial battle for Pakistan’s survival and prosperity. It was unanimously agreed that no one would be allowed to challenge the authority of the state under any circumstances.

Overall

Additionally, measures were reviewed to ensure robust security for Chinese nationals in Pakistan. New Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were approved by the Prime Minister to enhance security mechanisms for Chinese citizens in the country.