Lahore: Criticizing the previous government for alleged negligence in implementing the National Action Plan (NAP), Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday vowed to restore the role of provinces in the plan.
Presiding over a meeting on law and order here, the Prime Minister lamented that the role of the provinces in the implementation of the NAP has been neglected during the last four years. [when PTI was in power] Due to which the acts of terrorism increased in the country.
“This role of the provinces that have disappeared during the last four years will be restored,” he was quoted as saying in a statement.
The 20-point NAP was prepared in view of December 2014 terrorist attack Army Public School, Peshawar.
when contacted by dawnA senior security official explained how the provinces did not fulfill their responsibilities as defined in the NAP.
Shahbaz praises the performance of law enforcement agencies on completing the action plan of FATF
The official, who requested anonymity, said, “… the provinces were to make legal, judicial, police and madrassa reforms, ban hate literature, [ensure] Eliminate armament and provide specialized training to civil defense agencies. But unfortunately this has not happened at the provincial level.
Prime Minister Sharif stressed that ensuring law and order and a peaceful environment in the country was a prerequisite for restoring the national economy and development.
Standing behind the armed forces and law-enforcement agencies, the entire nation stands united on the counter-terrorism narrative, he added.
He said the fight against terrorism would continue till the threat is over and resolved never to compromise on the security and defense of Pakistan.
The meeting also reviewed the implementation of steps to eliminate sources of terrorism financing and relevant laws.
The Prime Minister lauded the performance of law-enforcement agencies with regard to completing the Action Plan of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The Paris-based FATF recently announced that Pakistan has implemented two action plans given to it and a mission of the body will visit the country in October to formally verify compliance. Remove it from the ‘Grey List’,
The FATF, made up of 37 member states including the US, regional groupings Gulf Cooperation Council and European Commission, placed Pakistan on the gray list in June 2018.
Islamabad was assigned a list of 27 conditions required to exit the gray list, which is made up of countries at high risk of money laundering and which the FATF considers terrorism financing. The IMF included a $6 billion bailout program for Pakistan to exit the gray list under set conditions.
Being in the gray list means that investors and creditors are scared of the country, while its exports may also suffer.
Expressing concern over the rising graph of road crimes in Punjab province, the Prime Minister directed the provincial government led by his son Hamza Shahbaz to take measures to protect the lives and properties of the people.
He said that public opinion can be changed in favor of police and law enforcement agencies only when they show a demonstration.
During the meeting, the PM was briefed about the law and order situation in the province, threats of terrorism as well as the measures being taken to contain this crisis.
Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz, Home Minister Rana Sanaullah, Deputy Speaker of Punjab Legislative Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari and other senior officials were present in the meeting.
Syed Irfan Raza in Islamabad also contributed to this report
Published in Dawn, June 27, 2022