He said MQM too, would benefit from the Karachi operation as it was aimed at targeting criminal elements, adding that reservations of any political party vis-a-vis the Karachi operation would be addressed. The Prime Minister further stated that the situation in Karachi was fast improving.
He said that a large number of culprits involved in terror and criminal activities had been arrested and they would be brought to justice. The cases of terrorists are being sent to military courts for speedy trial, he added. The Prime Minister was of the view that the government was committed to wiping out terrorists from the nook and corner of the country at all costs.
Nawaz Sharif said army was playing a pivotal role in eradicating terrorism and the army chief visited soldiers to encourage them whereas the air chief himself participated in an operation against terrorists. According to an official statement, the Federal Cabinet met with Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif in chair at the Prime Minister's Office. The meeting focused on the National Action Plan.
The Cabinet offered Fateha for the departed souls of all the victims of the Attock suicide attack and paid tribute to Shaheed Colonel Shuja Khanzada (Retd) for the sacrifice he rendered for the whole nation. The Prime Minister said the contributions of Shuja Khanzada as a member of the Provincial Assembly as well as Home Minister Punjab would be written in golden words.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz briefed the cabinet on the deadlock in recent dialogue with India. The Prime Minister said that any dialogue sans Kashmir issue would be futile. He said that Kashmiri leaders were an important party to this issue. Any decision on their future "cannot be made" without their opinion and consultation.
The Prime Minister, after a detailed presentation on the status of the National Action Plan, said the government was committed to implementing the NAP in its essence as benefits of its success would reach each and every corner of the country. He emphasised that those who were involved in sectarianism would be dealt with an iron hand and all those who disseminated hatred, incite militancy and encourage terrorism would not be spared either. He added the terrorists who played with the lives of the people and humanity were committing unforgivable crimes and they would not be spared.
The Prime Minister noted that the operation against criminal elements in Karachi was launched with the consensus of all stakeholders and the results of the operation were visible. He said that the citizens of Karachi wanted peace and the government would not allow political expediency to come in the way of restoring peace and reviving traditional tranquility of the city of the Quaid. He added that "we cannot even think of taking any step back as far as the Karachi operation was concerned and those who had come to the Parliament with the people's mandate should place their grievances and raise their issues on the floor of the house". He said that the government would continue its efforts to provide peace and security to the people of the metropolis.
The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Interior to prepare a strategy to deweaponise the whole society as no democratic government can allow armed groups to operate with impunity. He informed the cabinet that the operation Zarb-e-Azb was achieving its objectives with success and for this "credit goes to our armed forces and civilian institutions". He added that even the international community had appreciated the successes achieved by the Zarb-e-Azb. In this regard, the Prime Minister lauded the efforts and determination of Army Chief General Raheel Sharif. The Prime Minister also commended the efforts of Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sohail Aman for leading an operation from the front.
The Prime Minister said that the situation in Balochistan was improving day by day and "In sha Allah this process will continue till the time that there is a dawn of peace and prosperity from FATA to Balochistan and the city of Quaid." The Prime Minister also constituted a five-member Cabinet Committee to oversee implementation of Supreme Court's directions regarding the use of Urdu language for official business in government and semi-government departments. The Minister for IB & NH Senator Pervaiz Rashid will be the chairman of the Committee. Other members of the Committee include Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf; Minister for Housing Akram Durrani; Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Affairs Irfan Siddiqui and Special Assistant for Cabinet Affairs Barrister Zafarullah. The Committee will propose concrete steps besides taking necessary measures for promotion of Urdu in the official communication.
Earlier, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali briefed the Cabinet on the progress achieved so far on the NAP. He said that the government was making progress in the key elements of the Plan and due to the sacrifices of the armed forces and the LEAs the situation had improved a lot. He assured the Cabinet members that no criminal element or terrorist would be spared in the implementation of the NAP. The Interior Minister said the overall security situation in the country had improved considerably and "we will not allow anyone to derail the operation against the criminals."
The Prime Minister appreciated efforts of Interior Minister. The Cabinet considered and approved various agenda items placed before it which included MoUs with foreign countries in the field of Aviation, Climate Change, Commerce, Defense, Economic Affairs, Education, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Science & Technology, Water & Power, Board of Investment, Ports & Shipping and Information, Broadcasting &National Heritage, etc.