ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to constitute Expert Working Groups to ensure seamless coordination and implementation of every aspect of the National Action Plan (NAP) as he asserted Pakistan’s firm commitment to never allow any militant group to operate in the country or use its territory for any activity within or outside the country.
“The implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) is the foremost priority of the government as it is a reflection of the nation’s will and a consensus document agreed upon by all political parties of the country,” he said, while chairing the first-ever meeting of the National Internal Security Committee at the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday.
“The government is committed to removing all impediments towards the implementation of the plan in letter and spirit,” he told the attendees.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood, Religious Affairs Minister Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi, Inter-Services Intelligence Director-General, federal secretaries, Intelligence Bureau Director General, chief secretaries of the provinces, inspector generals of Police, provincial secretaries and senior officials.
“Pakistan has suffered immensely, both in terms of human lives as well as material losses, due to the menace of terrorism,” Khan said. “In return for the huge sacrifices rendered by the armed forces, intelligence agencies, police, civil armed forces and other law-enforcement agencies, Pakistan has made significant progress towards combating terrorism and ensuring peace.”
Recounting the various legislative and administrative measures taken by the government in dealing with militancy, combating terror-financing, money laundering and Hawala-Hundi and so on, the Prime Minister stressed upon the need for continued and sustained on-the-ground effort towards taking this struggle to a conclusive end.
The finance minister gave the meeting an update about Financial Action Task Force (FATF) related matters and meetings held with the Asia Pacific Group.
Secretary of Interior Maj (retd) Azam Suleman Khan told the meeting about the progress in the implementation of the NAP and highlighted the efforts under way in dealing with issues of cyber-security, money laundering, Madrassa reforms and addressing various challenges in the way of successful implementation of the plan. The Prime Minister commended the efforts of the interior ministry towards ensuring coordination among the relevant agencies and departments in the implementation of the NAP. The meeting decided to constitute Expert Working Groups to ensure seamless coordination and implementation of every aspect of the NAP.