PM assures opposition leader of consultation over National Security Policy
Khursheed Shah expressed his reservation for not taking parliamentarians onboard.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has assured that all the parliamentary leaders will be invited for a meeting to discuss the way forward and options to deal with the issue of terrorism.
Responding to a point of order raised by leader of the opposition Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah in the National Assembly today (Wednesday)‚ he said that there is no confusion in ranks of government about dealing with terrorism and he would like to seek suggestions from the parliamentary leaders on the matter.
He said the government dialogue committee kept media informed about the dialogue process.
Appreciating the Interior Minister for preparing a comprehensive national security policy‚ the Prime Minister said that this is not a final document and useful recommendations from the opposition and government benches could be incorporated in it.
He said this is not the policy of any political party but of the state and every body should contribute to further improve it.
Nawaz Sharif said that solution of country’s all problems lies in democracy.
Earlier‚ Syed Khurshid Shah said the opposition parties should stand by the government for the security of the country.
He said they will not take any step which is contrary to democratic norms and can adversely affect the integrity of the country.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan announced national policy for internal security in the National Assembly today (Wednesday).
He said three-pronged policy has been adopted to counter terrorism in the country. He said the first part of the policy will be secret‚ second strategic and third operational.
He said the policy has been formulated in a span of five months after consultations with all the segments of society and keeping in view the international models.
He said that this policy is not a final word and genuine inputs of parliamentarians will be welcomed and incorporated in the policy.
The Minister regretted that despite serious situation the previous governments did not bother to formulate a focused national security policy. He said that national security is the matter of the existence and future of the country and for this reason the government made untiring efforts to furnish a comprehensive policy. He said that the issue of terrorism will be resolved with political consensus no matter what option is exercised. He said this is not an easy task as we are facing an unseen enemy but the incumbent government under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is determined to make the country secure at all costs.
He expressed the confidence that we will rid the country of the wave of terror.
The Interior Minister said that the decision to hit the hideouts of terrorists was in consistent with the Prime Minister’s statement that violence and dialogue cannot go side by side.
Interior Minister said the government has introduced basic change in its policy on terrorism and decided to target terrorist leadership in their headquarters.
He said the government gave priority to dialogues with those who wanted to talk.
The Interior Minister said talks were held with commitment and transparently; however‚ unfortunately the violence in the country did not come to an end. He said the Prime Minister in the wake of grave violent incidents decided to suspend the talks. He said violence and talks cannot go side by side. The Interior Minister told the National Assembly that input of all the stakeholders was taken for the formulation of policy.
He said the National Counter Terrorism Authority will be made fully functional to deal with all the terror-related issues. He said a rapid response force will initially be established in Islamabad with manpower of five hundred personnel. This force will be replicated in all the four provinces after consultation of the provincial governments. This Anti-Terrorism force will be fully equipped to enable it react rapidly to any terror incident. Similarly‚ an internal security department will be established to enhance cooperation among civil Armed Forces.
Giving strong reaction to the recent acts of terrorism‚ Ch. Nisar Ali Khan said that befitting response will be given to any act of terror from the militants and terrorists.
The Interior Minister made it clear that stalled dialogue process will be resumed only after the end of terror activities from the other side.
