ISLAMABAD: The National Security Committee (NSC) on Friday resolved to not tolerate “any further breach of law” by the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TLP) — which has moved forward with its long march to Islamabad despite warnings from the government. Prime minister, Imran Khan, presided over the NSC meeting.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office after NSC meeting, the civil and military leadership were briefed about the country’s internal security situation and the ongoing agitation by the proscribed group.
Prime Minister told the participants that “No group or entity will be allowed to cause public disruption or use violence to pressure the government.”
Members of the federal cabinet, National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairperson Gen Nadeem Raza, all three services chiefs, and the directors-general of the Inter-Service Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, Federal Investigation Agency, and senior civil and military officers attended the meeting.
According to the statement, the participants of the meeting said the state’s restraint should not be seen as “a sign of weakness”.
Emphasising that the “government recognised the right of peaceful protest of all Pakistanis, committee members were unanimous that the TLP was deliberately employing violence against public property, state officials, and ordinary citizens to create instability in the country and that this shall not be tolerated,” the statement said.
The NSC decided that “all organs of the state stood ready to act as per the law to protect the life and property of citizens,” and noted that no previous government or prime minister had taken such an unequivocal stance on the issue of Namoos-i-Risalat and Islamophobia.
“Under the current government, Pakistan has successfully brought these issues to the fore of international diplomatic discourse in the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and European Union, among other fora,” the NSC observed, adding that one of the key objectives behind constituting the recently established Rehmatul-lil-Aalameen Authority was to “intellectually counter international propaganda against Islam and sanctity of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him)”.
Participants criticised the “TLP’s misuse of religion and the issue of Namoos-i-Risalat for political gains” saying that the move was “misleading the common man” and creating internal discord within society, according to the statement.
“The TLP’s violence has ended up furthering the agenda of sectarian elements and external enemies of the state,” the statement said, adding that “no such violent agitation had taken place in any other Muslim country” despite over 1.5 million Muslims across the world having immense regard and respect for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The committee also recalled that the TLP had adopted the “ploy of violent street agitation on numerous occasions since 2017 and made unrealistic demands each time, solely as a tool to gain political strength.”
In the process, the TLP’s actions had caused public disorder, serious economic losses to the country, besides boosting the morale of other terrorist outfits seeking to challenge the state’s writ, the participants regretted.
“The committee unanimously resolved to guard its sovereignty from all internal and external threats and not allow [the] TLP to challenge the writ of the state in any way. Participants endorsed the government’s decision to negotiate with the group only within the bounds of law, without offering leniency for any crimes committed by TLP operatives,” the statement said.
It quoted the the prime minister as saying that all measures and actions necessary to enforce the law and protect the interests of the state and public shall be ensured.
The participants of the meeting also praised police for showing “professionalism and restraint, despite being directly targeted and suffering casualties,” the statement said. It added that at least four policemen had been martyred in clashes with the proscribed group and over 400 had been injured.
“PM Imran and committee members expressed condolences at the loss of life of policemen and committed to compensating and looking after their families,” the statement said.
PM Imran also commended the exceptional performance of law enforcement agencies, and assured participants that the government will firmly stand behind officials as they act to enforce the law and protect the public, the statement concluded.
