Defence minister says the operation was approved with PTI members on board during apex committee meeting
\n ISLAMABAD
\nDefence Minister and senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif on Sunday accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of siding with terrorists against the military.
\nThe development comes a day after the Apex Committee of National Action Plan, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, approved \u201cOperation Azm-e-Istehkam\u201d to eliminate terrorism and extremism across the country.
\nThe meeting, held in Islamabad on Saturday, included key federal cabinet members such as the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Interior Minister, Finance Minister, Law Minister, and Information Minister.
\nChief ministers from all provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan, services chiefs, provincial chief secretaries, and other senior civilian, military, and law enforcement officials also attended.
\nThe forum conducted a comprehensive review of the ongoing anti-terrorism campaign and internal security situation. It examined the progress of the National Action Plan\u2019s multi-domain principles and highlighted areas where implementation was lacking. Emphasis was placed on addressing these shortcomings as a priority.
\nDuring a National Assembly (NA) session chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Sunday, Asif was given the floor to speak on the budget.
\nHis remarks prompted protests from the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), who chanted slogans against the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) operation and the killing of Pashtuns.
\n\u201cPTI is standing with terrorists against the army,\u201d Asif stated.
\nHe added, \u201cThe voice of minorities in Pakistan is being silenced. There are killings in Swat, Sargodha, and Faisalabad. Bloodshed in the name of religion cannot be allowed.\u201d
\nHe explained that the decision for Operation Azm-e-Istehkam was made in an Apex Committee meeting, which included PTI members and the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
\nThe Apex Committee of National Action Plan, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved \u201cOperation Azm-e-Istehkam\u201d to eliminate terrorism and extremism across the country yesterday.
\nAsif noted, \u201cWe will discuss Operation Azm-e-Istehkam in this house. If PTI has objections, they can raise them then. Today, they are demonstrating in support of terrorists and against the army.\u201d
\nConfirming the launch of Operation Istikham-e-Pakistan, Asif mentioned that the Apex Committee had approved the continuation of previously incomplete operations, and this decision will be brought to the cabinet and then to the parliament.
\nDuring the NA session today, PTI and SIC walked out of the parliament in protest after being denied the opportunity to speak on the floor.
\nDuring a media talk following the walkout, PTI asserted that the military must seek confidence through parliament before initiating operations.
\nWhat is Operation Azm-e-Istehkam?
\nOperation Azm-e-Istehkam aims to eradicate extremism and terrorism decisively and comprehensively. It will coordinate and align efforts across multiple fronts to address the threats, while intensifying efforts to curb terrorist activities through regional cooperation within the political and diplomatic spheres.
\nThe operation will bolster the armed forces\u2019 renewed and vigorous efforts with full support from all law enforcement agencies. Effective legislation will be enacted to close legal loopholes that hinder the prosecution of terrorism-related cases, ensuring exemplary punishments for offenders.
\nThis campaign will be complemented by socio-economic measures aimed at addressing the genuine concerns of the populace and creating an environment that discourages extremist tendencies.
\nThe forum reiterated that the fight against extremism and terrorism is Pakistan\u2019s own battle, crucial for the nation\u2019s survival and welfare. It was decided that no one would be allowed to challenge the state\u2019s authority without repercussions.
\nThe forum also reviewed measures to ensure foolproof security for Chinese nationals in Pakistan. Following the prime minister\u2019s approval, new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were issued to enhance the security framework for Chinese citizens in the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Defence minister says the operation was approved with PTI members on board during apex committee meeting ISLAMABAD Defence Minister and senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Khawaja Asif on Sunday accused Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of siding with terrorists against the military. The development comes a day after the Apex Committee of National Action Plan, chaired […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":414084,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-414067","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n