Development or sit-in, decision has to be made now: PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the national economy is on the path to improvement, 24NewsHD TV channel reported.

“A decision has to be made now whether to bring in development or sit-ins,” he said while addressing a meeting of the Apex Committee.

Top military and civil leadership and chief ministers of all the provinces and ministers concerned attended the meeting.

The moot mulled over the law and order situation in the country and the implementation of the national action plan for counterterrorism.

It mooted measures to ensure effective coordination between provinces and the federal government and intel-sharing to purge terrorism.

The sitting reviewed the recent surge in terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan and steps to restore peace to the provinces.

The meeting was briefed about the results of the intelligence-based operations in the country.

The premier said eradicating terrorism is essential for economic development, adding that much is needed for this purpose.

All the federating units must join hands for economic growth and prosperity, he said.

He linked peace to economic growth and praised the army chief’s role in the fight against terrorism and efforts to put the country in the right direction.

He added: “If everyone joins hands, the country will move forward,”

"Federation, provinces, and army chief did the best work in economic improvement.

He recalled his elder brother Nawaz Sharif’s rule and said peace was restored in his regime by joint efforts and thousands of people made sacrifices in the anti-terror fight.

He paid tribute to the families of martyrs and said the personnel of law enforcement agencies made sacrifices for the motherland.

The committee’s meeting, which was scheduled to be held on Monday, was postponed at the eleventh hour owing to PM Shehbaz Sharif’s ill health.

According to a PMO press release, the meeting focused on the 'Reinvigorating Pakistan’s Counterterrorism Campaign'. The participants were briefed on the evolving security landscape and the measures being taken to counter it.

Actions against efforts promoting hate. anti-state activities, religious extremism, crime-terror nexus, and disinformation campaigns, among other issues. 

The Committee highlighted the necessity of a unified political voice and a cohesive national narrative to effectively address these multifaceted challenges.

It was emphasized that political support across party lines and complete national consensus are critical to reinvigorating the national CT campaign under the framework of Vision Azm-e-Istehkam.  The revitalisation of NACTA and the establishment of National and Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre was also agreed upon. 

A whole-of-system approach was adopted, incorporating diplomatic, political, informational, intelligence, socio-economic, and military efforts to address these issues comprehensively.

Specific emphasis was placed on strengthening collaboration between federal and provincial governments and between relevant institutions and ministries to ensure seamless execution of the CT campaign. It was decided to establish District Coordination Committees under the Provincial Apex Committees to ensure the implementation of directions received from Federal and Provincial Governments. The forum demonstrated political resolve to dismantle the ecosystem of illegal spectrum and crime-terror nexus. 

The participants also approved a comprehensive military operation against terrorist organisations operating in Balochistan including the Majeed Brigade, BLA, BLF and BRAS who are targeting innocent civilians and foreign nationals to scuttle Pakistan’s economic progress by creating insecurity at the behest of hostile external powers. COAS reiterated the Pakistan Army’s unwavering resolve to eliminate all threats to national security and provide robust support to the government’s initiatives aimed at ensuring peace and stability.

At the conclusion, the Prime Minister directed all stakeholders to pursue the outlined initiatives with vigor, ensuring their timely implementation. He underscored the importance of sustained, coordinated efforts to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty, ensure the safety of its citizens, and reinforce economic and social stability.

Reporter Awais Kiyani