By The civil-military leadership on Tuesday agreed to expand intelligence-based operations (IBOs) against terrorists in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and strengthen coordination between federal and provincial institutions during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The meeting, attended by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, federal ministers, governors and senior officials, reviewed the province's security, political and administrative situation.
The participants reviewed the overall national and internal security situation, with particular focus on law and order in K-P, developments following the imposition of governor's rule and emergency, and progress on ongoing counterterrorism operations and IBOs.
Sources said the meeting decided to broaden the scope of IBOs to eliminate terrorism and make coordination between federal and provincial institutions more effective. Participants agreed that a coordinated approach was essential to address the security challenges facing the province.
The prime minister directed the relevant institutions to work under a coordinated strategy to restore law and order, stressing the need for improved cooperation among government departments to ensure effective implementation of decisions.
The meeting was briefed on earlier decisions concerning K-P, progress in their implementation and the results achieved. Governor Kundi informed participants about measures taken across various sectors of the province and the performance of the Area Development Council (ARDC).
The federal government imposed governor's rule and a state of emergency in K-P on October 11 to rein in terrorism and improve governance in the province. On October 22, Prime Minister Shehbaz chaired an Apex Committee meeting and announced Rs160 billion worth of development projects for the province.
The Rs160 billion development package also came under review at Tuesday's meeting. The package focuses on advancing development projects, strengthening security arrangements and undertaking public welfare initiatives in the province.
According to sources, participants also took stock of the country's broader political situation, while matters relating to possible legislation in the coming days were also discussed.
Since the imposition of governor's rule in K-P, the country has witnessed a significant improvement in several key security indicators, with terrorist attacks declining by 37% compared with September, according to statistics released by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.
However, the institute warned in a report last week that certain incidents remained a cause for concern. In the latest such incident, two policemen were martyred in Mohmand district when gunmen targeted police personnel guarding a polio vaccination team.
A constable and an alleged terrorist were injured in an exchange of fire in the Tamanzai area, within the jurisdiction of Pindiali police station, during an anti-polio vaccination campaign, District Police Officer (DPO) Raza Muhammad Khan said.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing "profound grief and sorrow" over the martyrdom of the policemen and paying tribute to their "dedication, bravery and national services".
In a post on X, the president said targeting personnel performing their duties during the anti-polio campaign "to protect children" was "extremely regrettable and condemnable". "Police personnel deployed to protect polio teams are performing a national duty; their sacrifices will not be forgotten," President Zardari said.
In a separate statement, the prime minister paid tribute to the policemen martyred in the incident, prayed for the elevation of their ranks and extended condolences to their bereaved families. "Such terrorist attacks are deeply regrettable and worthy of condemnation," the prime minister said.
Meanwhile, the funeral prayers of Constables Zahoor Khan and Arabi Khan were offered at Police Lines Ghalanai with full official honours. A large number of civil, military and police officials, along with relatives of the deceased, attended the funeral.
On the occasion, DPO Raza Khan, 114 Brigade Commander Brigadier Iftikhar Mehboob, Mohmand Rifles Commandant Colonel Imran Khalid and Deputy Commissioner Mohmand (retd) Captain Bilal Shahid Rao laid floral wreaths on the bodies of the martyred constables to pay tribute to their sacrifice.
A smartly turned-out police contingent presented a salute to the fallen personnel. Following the funeral prayers, participants prayed for the elevation of the martyrs' ranks, forgiveness for the deceased, and patience and fortitude for their bereaved families.
(WITH INPUTS FROM OUR PESHAWAR CORRESPONDENT)
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2638539/high-level-huddle-on-k-p-agrees-to-scale-up-ibos
