PM calls heads of parliamentary parties today

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has convened a meeting of the heads of all parliamentary parties in Islamabad on Friday to review the progress so far made in implementation of the National Action Plan on counter terrorism. "The moot will review the progress so far made in the implementation of the National Action Plan," a statement from the PM House said. It said the PM will consult the heads of parliamentary parties and take them into confidence on the progress to implement national plan of action in letter and spirit. Earlier Thursday, the Prime Minister presided over a meeting and held consultation with legal experts, key cabinet members and military leadership.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday said the national plan of action on counter-terrorism is to identify and destroy hardcore terrorists, and protect the civilians. The Prime Minister vowed to defeat terrorism and not get terrorized by it and added that "We'll take the war to the hideouts of terrorists."

"We'll not only fight terrorism but will also prevent it," the Prime Minister said in his opening remarks at the follow-up meeting on the implementation of National Action Plan on counter terrorism and extremism, here at the PM's House. The Prime Minister said the country's entire political spectrum is united in war against terrorism and extremism and will achieve success by taking effective measures at right time.

"Our war is against hatred, fear and terrorism". He said nobody could remain neutral in this war against terrorists. The Prime Minister said the government would support the armed forces and law enforcement agencies to keep the country and the children safe in the days and years to come. He said fight against terrorists would be fought holistically through diplomacy, intelligence, law enforcement and military. The Prime Minister said the government would make sure that there was no distinction between those who committed acts of terror and those who harbored them.

"We will make sure the sacrifices of our law enforcement agencies and the blood spilled in Peshawar does not go waste," he said. The implementation of National Action Plan is being treated as top priority and the Prime Minister is holding regular meetings to ensure its swift implementation. Governor Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Sardar Mehtab and ministers including Ishaq Dar ( Finance), Pervaiz Rasheed ( Information), Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan ( Interior), Khwaja Asif ( Defence), Ahsan Iqbal ( Planning and Development) and Lt Gen ( retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch ( SAFRON) attended the meeting. Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Director General ISI Lt. Gen. Rizwan Akhtar and Director General ISPR Maj Gen. Asim Bajwa were also present.