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GovT GreenliGhTs operaTion azm-i-isTehkam To reinviGoraTe counTer-Terrorism campaiGn Sunday, 23 June, 2024 I |16 Zil-Hajj, 1445
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XIV No 352 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
g OPERATION INTEGRATES AND SYNERGISES MULTIPLE LINES OF EFFORTS PREMIER STRESSES COMBATING TERRORISM REQUIRES A WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO COMBAT EXTREMISM AND TERRORISM IN A DECISIVE MANNER
Naqvi says no room for negligence in foreigners’ security plan
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
HE federal government on Saturday approved a reinvigorated and re-energized national counter-terrorism campaign by launching Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, symbolising national resolve to eradicate extremism and terrorism from the country. The Central Apex Committee on the National Action Plan (NAP), chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, approved the national counter-terrorism campaign with consensus of all stakeholders including the Provinces, Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. “Azm-i-Istehkam will integrate and synergise multiple lines of effort to combat the menaces of extremism and terrorism in a comprehensive and decisive manner,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a press release. The 20-point NAP for countering terrorism and extremism had been chalked out by the National Counter Terrorism Authority in consultation with stakeholders and approved on December 24, 2014, by Parliament. The decision came following a deadly terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar. Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in the past year, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan after the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. According to an annual security report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan witnessed 1,524 violencerelated fatalities and 1,463 injuries from 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023 — marking a record six-year high. The PMO said the forum conducted a comprehensive review of the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign and assessed the
ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
country’s internal security situation. “The forum reiterated that the fight against extremism and terrorism is Pakistan’s war and is absolutely essential for the nation’s survival and well-being. The forum resolved that no one will be allowed to challenge the writ of the state without any exception,” it added. The progress on NAP’s multi-domain tenets was scrutinised, with particular emphasis on identifying shortcomings in its implementation for addressing them as top priority. The necessity for a comprehensive and reinvigorated counter-terrorism strategy, founded on “complete national consensus and system-wide synergy”, was underscored. The PMO said that in the politico-diplomatic domain, efforts would be intensified to curtail the operational space for terrorists through regional cooperation. The renewed and full-blown kinetic efforts of the armed forces would be augmented by full support from all law enforcement agencies, empowered by effec-
tive legislation to address legal voids that hindered the effective prosecution of terrorism-related cases and award of exemplary punishments to them, the press release said. It added that the campaign would be duly complemented by socioeconomic measures aimed at addressing the genuine concerns of the people and creating an environment that discouraged extremist tendencies. Furthermore, the information space would be leveraged to promote a “unified national narrative in support of the campaign”. The forum also reviewed measures to ensure foolproof security for Chinese nationals in Pakistan. Following the prime minister’s approval, new standard operating procedures were issued to relevant departments, which would enhance mechanisms for providing comprehensive security to Chinese citizens in Pakistan. The committee meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Finance
Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday warned against any negligence in the execution of security plan for foreign nationals, saying that strict compliance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the security plan must be ensured. “Strict compliance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the security plan related to foreign nationals must be ensured, besides regular monitoring at all levels”, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed while chairing a high-level meeting on Saturday. The meeting reviewed the overall security situation, especially the government’s measures for the protection of foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens. Federal Secretary of Interior Khurram Ali Agha, National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) Chief Muhammad Tahir Rai, National Action Plan Coordinator, and senior officials from the Ministry of Interior and other agencies attended the meeting. “Relevant institutions must maintain close coordination to thwart the malicious intentions of anti-state elements,” he Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and others. Additionally, the chief ministers of all provinces and GB, the services chiefs, and chief secretaries of the provinces along with other senior civilian, military and law enforcement agency officers were also present.
China, Pakistan reaffirm all-weather strategic cooperative partnership ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
China and Pakistan have reaffirmed their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and the unbreakable friendship between the two countries, during a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official’s visit to the South Asian country. Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, led a CPC delegation to visit Pakistan from Thursday to Saturday. During the visit, Liu met with President of the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister
and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, as well as with people of all social sectors in Pakistan. The CPC senior official also attended the China-Pakistan Political Parties Forum and the third meeting of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Political Parties Joint Consultation Mechanism and delivered a speech. During the visit, the two sides agreed to implement the new important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries, strengthen interparty exchanges, deepen exchanges and mutual learning on governance experience, promote high-quality joint con-
struction of CPEC, and promote the building of an even closer China-Pak-
istan community with a shared future in the new era.
Omar Ayub urges COAS to review security protocol for Chinese citizens ISLAMABAD
MIAN ABRAR
Opposition Leader in the National Assembly, Omar Ayub Khan, has urged Army Chief General Asim Munir to call an immediate Corps Commanders Conference to discuss security failures concerning Chinese citizens. The call was made during a National Assembly session chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Saturday. The session saw the return of PPP members, who ended their boycott, increasing their presence in the assembly. Among those present were Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Sharmila Farooqi, Syed Naveed Qamar, Ejaz Jakhrani, Abdul Qadir Patel, and Jamal Rehmani. Mirza Ikhtiar Baig praised Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sharif’s initiative to provide cheaper electricity to the industry. He questioned whether the government would bear the Rs240 billion subsidy or if the burden would be shifted to consumers. Omar Ayub Khan raised a point of order, expressing concerns over the Chinese leadership’s remarks on security threats to Chinese experts in Pakistan, stating it jeopardised CPEC investments. He urged the army chief to convene a conference solely focused on the security of Chinese citizens and experts. Ayub also demanded a review of the current security measures and accountability for any failures. He further criticised the recent arrests of over 100 PTI workers in Punjab during protests and called for action against the Punjab IG for filing cases against assembly members.
IMF welcomes govt’s tough budgetary measures ISLAMABAD
MONITORING REPORT
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has welcomed the federal government’s strict policy measures proposed in the upcoming federal budget during virtual talks with the government authorities with regard to the next bailout package. According to official sources, there has been progress in the talks between Pakistan and the IMF. The Fund, they said, has welcomed the tough economic decisions in Pakistan’s federal budget and praised the positive role of political parties. The IMF has also appreciated the limitation of tax exemptions for economic improvement. An IMF delegation may visit Pakistan in the last week of June to discuss a new loan
programme. Pakistan has already implemented prior conditions before the new programme. The budget for the next fiscal year is expected to be approved by June 28 or 29. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday did not announce a decision on exporters’ demand to withdraw the budget proposal of imposing standard 29% income tax rate–keeping his cards close to the chest as he faces competing demands for reversal of many tax proposals. The exporters have pleaded that it would be the height of injustice and inequality for exporters to tax them at such a high rate of 29% along with up to 10% of super tax and also bound them to consider the tax withheld at receipt as minimum. There are many other taxes and withholding taxes becoming a big hindrance in
the way of export growth. They are claiming that the effects of new proposals for the export industry are not rational at any point. The PML-N-led coalition government has also dropped a price bomb of over Rs250 billion on milk consumers by proposing an 18% general sales tax (GST) on every liter of packaged milk being sold in the country. Interestingly, the Shehbaz Sharif government has targeted a segment related to people’s nutrition, disregarding the sad fact that Pakistan is already facing a very high stunting rate of 40% in children. As packaged milk comprises a very small portion of the total milk consumed in Pakistan, the government will reap the benefit of only Rs75 billion, while the remaining Rs250 billion will go into the pockets of milkmen.
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stated, adding, “There is no room for negligence in the security plan.” During the briefing, officials from the ministry of interior and other relevant institutions provided updates on the security plan and the current situation. Yesterday, a visiting Chinese minister called for enhanced security for his nationals in Pakistan, saying the volatile security situation shook the confidence of his country’s investors. “We need to improve security and the business environment. Security threats are the main hazards disturbing CPEC cooperation,” remarked Liu Jianchao, the Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), while co-chairing the meeting of the Pakistan-China Joint Consultative Mechanism with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Earlier on June 16, Minister Naqvi met Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong to discuss the protection and security of Chinese citizens in Pakistan. He outlined the measures for protecting Chinese citizens across Pakistan and discussed the security plan for Chinese engineers and staff working on CPEC and other projects.
Combatting terrorism requires whole-ofgovt approach: PM Earlier, the premier said while addressing the committee that combatting terrorism in the country was not solely one institution’s job and required a whole-of-government approach.
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pTi says to consider achakzai’s suggestions following talk with govt ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
PTI leader Raoof Hassan on Saturday said that party founder Imran Khan would consider any “constructive suggestions” brought forward by Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chairman Mahmood Achakzai through his dialogue with the ruling coalition. In an interview with a private, the PTI spokesperson said that the party’s stance had not changed since the beginning. Commenting PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan’s remarks the party being open to negotiations, Hasan said they had approached Imran following Gohar’s comments, where the PTI founder said that no such statement was given. “There will not be any direct contact with the parties that have stolen the mandate,” Gohar quoted Imran as saying. “Regarding Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Imran said that if he wanted to talk [to the opposition] on his own then he is allowed,” he said. “We cannot pressure any party if they think that they can play a constructive role then they should try,” Hasan said. “Imran said today that if they bring forward constructive suggestions, we would consider them. It is an open-ended policy.” While responding to the question of whether PTI has given the authority to negotiate to the PkMAP chairman, Raoof said: “No, PTI’s position is clear. Do not confuse two things together. PTI’s position is clear that we don’t want any contact with mandate thieves.” “If he [Achakzai] comes to us and says that this is something positive and we should move forward with it, to that Imran has said that we will consider it,” Hasan said.