Shahbaz Sharif presides over a meeting of Apex Committee

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting of Apex Committee, here today. Corps Commander Lahore Lt. Gen. Naveed Zaman, Director General Rangers Punjab Maj. Gen. Khan Tahir Javed Khan, General Officer Commanding 10^th Division Maj. Gen. Amir Abbasi, Provincial Home Minister Col. (R) Shuja Khanzada, Chief Secretary Punjab, Inspector General Police, Secretary Home and other senior officers were present. The meeting unanimously decided to take immediate measures for the effective implementation of national action plan against terrorism.

Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that after consensus over national action plan, immediate decisions were taken and positive results are being witnessed due to their implementation. He said that extraordinary and immediate measures are required in the present situation. He said that martyrdom of students of Army Public School Peshawar has promoted national unity and the barbarity shown against innocent children is unprecedented. He said that political, military and religious leadership of the country is on one page against terrorism.

Shahbaz Sharif said that there is a heavy responsibility on every member of the society at this critical juncture of national history and victory is the only option in the war for survival of the country. He said that terrorists are enemies of Pakistan and they will be rooted out to give a safe and peaceful country to the future generations. He said that Pak Army is the best trained and disciplined force of the world and officers and Jawans of Pak Army, police and common citizens have rendered unprecedented sacrifices in the war against terrorism. He said that all segments of the society will have to play an active role in the war against terrorism to defeat terrorists and their facilitators. He said that terrorism, extremism and sectarianism will be eliminated from the country with the force of unity and terrorists will find no place to hide in Pakistan. He said that it is high time to come out for the survival of the country.

The Chief Minister said that the course of history will be changed and Pakistan will be made an Islamic welfare state in the real sense. The meeting also reviewed security arrangements in the province and it was decided to take all out steps for the protection of life and property of citizens. Proposals to make security arrangements foolproof were also discussed on the occasion.