ISLAMABAD: A high-level meeting was held on country’s internal security at the PM House in Islamabad on Tuesday, during which Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed immediate establishment of a National Intelligence Directorate under the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) to provide all sort of information regarding terrorist activities to the provinces.
During the meeting, the prime minister also approved the establishment of rapid-response forces at the federal and provincial levels with quality and trained manpower. He directed to recruit perfect professionals in the rapid response force.
The meeting was attended by the four chief ministers, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Chief of the Army Staff General Rahil Sharif, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt Gen Zahirul Islam, Chief of General Staff Lt Gen Ashfaq Ahmad Nadeem and DG Miltary Operations Major General Amir Riaz.
The prime minister also directed fast-track establishment of high security prisons in all provinces.
Sharif directed the provinces to utilize the options available in the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance as this law had made electronic evidence admissible, allowed video link trial with provision for transfer of trials and prisoners to other provinces, and preventive detention of enemy aliens.
The DG Military Operations, Deputy Director General ISI and the Interior Minister briefed the meeting on different aspects of internal security issues.
The prime minister said that the provincial governments and institutions had to work hard to contribute and establish a secure environment by eliminating terrorism as economic prosperity was linked with security and peace in the country.
During the meeting, the premier also reviewed the capacities of federal and provincial law enforcement agencies and said the provinces needed to work more to ensure admissible evidence and efficient prosecution in heinous offenses within time limits.
