Underscoring the point that the protection of people’s life and property was government’s top priority, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Thursday that the country could only progress if people felt safe and their investments were secure, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Speaking at the meeting of the coordination committee of the Central Apex Committee convened to discuss in detail progress on the National Action Plan, he said the government would choke all sources of funding of terrorism. “Terrorism is a scourge for the elimination of which a well thought-out strategy is required,” Sanaullah asserted.

The minister ordered the concerned departments to take steps on a war footing in order to enhance the capacity of CTD and other organisations formed to combat terrorism. “The entire nation, especially the law-enforcement agencies (LEAs), has faced militancy boldly and courageously,” he said, and also directed that the families of those who had lost their lives in incidents of terrorism be looked after.  

Federal Minister for Law Azam Nazir Tarar, Secretary Interior Yousaf Naseem Khokhar, FIA DG, National Coordinator NACTA, inspector general of police (IGP), Islamabad, commissioner Islamabad, and security agencies’ officials attended the meeting.

Chief secretaries as well as the IGPs of all the four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir attended the meeting via a video link.  

Reporter: Awais Kiani