Story Highlights
Peshawar Massacre Follow up (61 news)
Peshawar school’s massacre continued to be the most covered story on the second week. Many new developments were seen on political and military fronts. National political leadership came to the same page about policy to eliminate terrorism.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif summoned the All Parties Conference (APC) to take political leadership into confidence and formulate a national plan of action against terrorism. While chairing the meeting, Prime Minister Sharif said that military operations Zarb e Azb and Khyber I are underway in the tribal areas and urban areas of KP where terrorists have hideouts. Prime Minister also reiterated that no distinction will be made between terrorists and their supporters.
Meanwhile, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on Thursday paid tribute to political leadership of the country for their efforts, and vowed to rid Pakistan of the menace of terrorism through reforms and administrative measures during a high level security meeting. According to Director General, ISPR, Maj Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa, the General reviewed all activities to be undertaken by the Army and intelligence agencies as part of National Action Plan and directed them to initiate actions and ensure its speedy implementation. President Mamnoon Hussain also said that Pakistan will not bow before the terrorists.
On Tuesday, the committee of Parliamentary Parties, meant for give recommendations for countering terrorism, presented 17 recommendations, and urged the government to setup Anti-Terrorism Council, make National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) effective and create a special task force against terrorism.
Commanders of Afghan National Army (ANA) and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan General Raheel Sharif and assured that Taliban sanctuaries in Afghanistan would be eliminated. They also discussed coordinated operation and intelligence sharing against Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Afghan troops also launched an operation this week in Kunar province near Pak-Afghan border in which 21 terrorists were killed, said media reports.
On the other hand Al-Qaeda condemned attack on the school by Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan. In a statement, Al-Qaeda spokesman terms the Pakistani Taliban’s attack as “un-Islamic”. Meanwhile crackdown on terrorists continued in the country as hundreds of suspects have been rounded up by the security forces.
Terrorists Executed (26 news)
Execution of convicted terrorists continued after the demand of public to hang the convicted terrorists, held in various jails in the wake of Peshawar school attack. On Sunday four terrorists, Ghulam Sarwar Bhatti, Zubair Ahmed, Rasheed Qureshi and a Russian citizen Akhlaq Ahmed alias Roosi, convicted of attack on former president Pervez Musharraf, were executed in District Jail Faisalabad. Earlier, Aqeel alias Dr Usman, involved in attack on Army’s Headquarters in Rawalpindi and Arshad, another accused of attack on Musharraf, were hanged in the same jail on Friday. Usman and Arshad were the first ones to be hanged after lifting moratorium on execution by the Prime Minister after Peshawar attack.
According to media reports, the convicts were frightened and in their will they said that they repented their crimes and advised their companions not to kill innocent people.
More executions are expected in coming days in Lahore, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad jails.
Military Courts (26 news)
After Peshawar massacre, the government and army decided to set up military courts against terrorism. While giving ultimatum to the terrorists on Wednesday midnight after the meeting of the parliamentary parties’ leaders, Prime Minister Sharif announced that the country’s political leadership agreed to set up special military courts to try hardened terrorists.
These special courts will be led by army officers. According to media reports, army has started groundwork for setting up courts and finishing other tasks assigned to the army under national Action Plan against terrorism. Leaders from different political parties said that military courts won’t be used for political purpose. Prime Minister Sharif also convened a high-level meeting on Friday to evolve a strategy to speedily implement the 20-points anti-terror National Action Plan, supported by civil-military leadership.
Other News (116 news)
All other news are considered under this category.
