'Unflinching Resolve': Apex Committee Vows To Protect People At All Costs

'Unflinching Resolve': Apex Committee Vows To Protect People At All Costs
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that the Apex Committee, which met today in Peshawar, has expressed "unflinching resolve to protect the people of Pakistan at any cost".

The premier made the remarks on Twitter, adding, "Those who attack innocent citizens will be brought to justice. We will not allow anti-terror gains to be reversed."

The meeting was called in wake of the deadly suicide bombing in Peshawar that claimed 101 lives, mostly of police personnel. The attacker was present in the front row during prayers, killing dozens of faithful.
The forum approved measures to improve investigation, forensics, and working of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), he added.

Scores were also injured in the attack. The prime target of the attacker was said to be police personnel.

The participants, the premier maintained, reviewed the security situation and agreed to devise a uniform policy.

The forum approved measures to improve investigation, forensics, and working of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), he added.

He hinted at taking all stakeholders onboard with the aim to create a consensus, and reiterated the state's zero tolerance policy against terrorism.

The premier added that the participants agreed to evolve a mechanism to implement the decisions made.

'Sources of terror'

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the Prime Minister's Office said the meeting agreed to eliminate all sources of terror and ensure an effective screening to this effect.
The proposals regarding the upgradation, training, and provision of arms, technology and equipment to police, CTD, and the National Counter-Terrorism Authority.

It was also agreed upon to build CTD headquarters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and initiate Safe City Project in the province.

On border control, participants mulled various steps on probe, prosecution, and punishment of terrorists.

The proposals on upgradation, training, and provision of arms, technology, and equipment to police, CTD, and the National Counter-Terrorism Authority were also approved on the occasion.

Earlier, Presi­d­ent Arif Alvi summoned a joint session of the Parliament on February 8, as lawmakers asked for holding the crucial talks.

“The president has called the joint sitting of the parliament at 3pm on Feb 8 (Wednesday) under Articles 48(1) and 54(1) of the Constitution,” according to an official announcement issued by the presidency.

Senators had earlier called for holding the session with a view to addressing terrorism and finding out a way to deal with the issue, as the country continues to grapple with a grave economic crisis.