Advertisement

Updated June 27th, 2022 at 06:31 IST

Pakistan PM blames Imran Khan govt for 56% rise in terrorist activities in 2021

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lambasted his predecessor Imran Khan for not implementing the National Action Plan (NAP) during his tenure.

Reported by: Ajeet Kumar
Pakistan
Image: AP/Facebook/Shehbaz Sharif | Image:self
Advertisement

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lambasted his predecessor Imran Khan for not implementing the National Action Plan (NAP) during his tenure and said this resulted in the abrupt increase in terror activities in the country. He said that his government has been assessing the situation since the very first day of taking the oath and assured the countrymen to restore NAP at the earliest. The acknowledgement from the Pakistan Prime Minister came in the backdrop of a report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) that claimed the country witnessed a 56% surge in terror activities in the past year. As per the report, militants carried out 294 attacks, killing 388 people and wounding another 606 in 2021.

PM Shehbaz, who chaired a meeting on law and order in Lahore on Sunday, said, "The role of the provinces in the National Action Plan will be restored, which did not exist in the last four years" and added that because of ignoring the role of provinces in NAP, terrorism has increased in the last four years. According to The Express Tribune, the Prime Minister accused the earlier regime of ignoring the significance of the action plan. He accused Khan of offering a free hand to terrorism. It is worth mentioning the country had witnessed one of the horrific incidents in December 2014, wherein a terror attack on an Army Public School killed at least nearly 150 people. According to Pakistani media, around 132 children were killed in the deadly attack.

Subsequently, a national consensus was evolved to come down hard on the terrorists through a concerted national effort. Within a week, Pakistan's interior ministry in consultation with all stakeholders had also approved a 20-point NAP for countering terrorism and extremism. However, it could not affect the determination of the terrorists and the country witnessed a number of deadly attacks. According to Sharif, NAP had spelt out the specifics for the counter-terrorism drive in the country involving provincial governments, which was allegedly ignored by the Imran Khan-led government.

Pakistan to remain on FATF 'Grey List'

Further, during the meeting, Pakistani media reported that Sharif expressed concerns over the rise in street crime. Notably, the meeting was also significant as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global money-laundering and terror-financing watchdog, had said the country will continue to be on the "Grey List" of FATF. It noted that Islamabad may be removed from the list after an on-site visit to verify the implementation of its reforms on countering terror-financing mechanisms.
"Pakistan is not being removed from the Grey List today. It will be removed if the on-site visit finds that its actions are sustainable," outgoing FATF president Marcus Pleyer said.

Image: AP/Facebook/Shehbaz Sharif

Advertisement

Published June 27th, 2022 at 06:31 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Mukhtar Ansari Death
6 minutes ago
Chamkila
9 minutes ago
Lorry Crushes Car-Cleaner To Death In Telangana
14 minutes ago
Major League Cricket
15 minutes ago
Abhay Deol
15 minutes ago
Jailed Gangster Mukhtar Ansari Passes Away
17 minutes ago
delhi cm arvind kejriwal
17 minutes ago
MEA Responds To China’s Comment On Sikh Separatist Gurupatwant Singh Pannun
19 minutes ago
Riyan Parag
22 minutes ago
David Warner
23 minutes ago
Dhara Gujjar
32 minutes ago
The ICJ has ordered Israel to ensure the smooth flow of aid to the people of Gaza.
37 minutes ago
UFC Exclusive Erin Blanchfield
40 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo