ISLAMABAD: Expressing concern over the fresh wave of terrorism in Punjab, a high-level meeting presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and attended by chief ministers of three provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan supported the call for a national conference of all political parties to discuss ways of combating militancy in the country.

The meeting had a one-point agenda —the law and order situation in the aftermath of Thursday’s attacks on Data Darbar.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain attended the meeting in place of the chief minister.

The prime minister accepted a proposal made by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif on Saturday to convene the conference to hammer out an improved strategy to combat terrorism.

However, no tentative date for the conference was given by Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira who, along with Interior Minister Rehman Malik, briefed newsmen at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat — the venue of the meeting.

The meeting unanimously decided to stop forthwith activities of leaders of the banned organisations which are accused of having links with terrorist groups operating in Fata.

In reply to a question, the interior minister said he could not give a definite answer as to who was involved in the Data Darbar massacre till the completion of inquiry, but added that every act of terror in Punjab did have a link with Lashkar-i-Jhangvi or Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.

Because of a late start by one hour, an expected one-to-one meeting between the prime minister and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif could not take place as the former had to attend an independence day function at the US embassy.

Mufti Munib-ur-Rahman, chief of Tanzimul Madaris, was specially invited to the meeting.

He criticised both the federal and provincial governments for failing to put their act together in dealing with the banned outfits which, according to him, were playing havoc with people’s lives.

According to insiders, Mufti Munib held the interior ministry and the Punjab government responsible for incidents of terrorism. He came down hard on the Punjab law minister for ‘inaction’ against the proscribed organisations.

The meeting, also attended by the AJK prime minister, heads of intelligence and security agencies, provincial chief secretaries and IGs, also decided to introduce a fresh anti-terror law in the coming session of parliament to strengthen the judiciary in dealing with cases of terrorism.

The meeting asked the interior ministry to set up a special cell at the National Anti-Terrorism Authority. It will work as a think-tank and assist the government in pre-empting incidents of terrorism.

The participants agreed to accelerate work on Madressah reforms. The interior minister said that all religious seminaries had signed a document as a basis for the proposed reforms, which would be launched soon.

Mr Malik denied that there was any acrimony between him and the Punjab chief minister, saying he would meet him in a couple of days to discuss ways and means to pre-empt terror attacks.

The meeting also discussed a recent proposal made by the Parliamentary Committee on National Security for a change in national strategy for combating terrorism and decided to look into its recommendations.

“No military operation is being launched anywhere, including southern Punjab, and whatever action is needed it will be decided by the government of Punjab,” Mr Malik said in reply to a question.

In his opening remarks, the prime minister said that all major political parties, whether in parliament or outside, would be invited to the national conference to work out an improved strategy against terrorists.

He appealed to the nation to unite against forces killing innocent citizens, destroying schools and hospitals and desecrating mosques and shrines.

Mr Gilani directed all security and intelligence agencies to redouble their efforts and share information with each other to defeat terrorists.

Courtesy by dawn.com