Imran Khan, the first chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and a former prime minister, declared his intention to take part in the government’s All Parties Conference (APC) on Operation Azm-e-Istehkam.
The former prime minister said that PTI members would only attend the meeting as “observers” during a media briefing on Friday at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. He emphasized that the decision to participate was made exclusively for Pakistan’s sake.
The PTI leader, who is detained, declared plans to go on a hunger strike while in prison during his speech. He also showed mistrust against the chief justice.
“I will announce the final date for the hunger strike after consulting with my lawyers,” he stated.
In order to resolve concerns raised by opposition and coalition parties about Operation Azm-e-Istahkam, the administration chose to summon the APC. Building political consensus and ensuring that all parties support the operation’s goals are the goals of the conference.
“Operation Azm-e-Istehkam” was approved on June 22 by the Apex Committee of National Action Plan, which is headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and aims to eradicate extremism and terrorism nationwide.
Through the start of this operation, PM Shehbaz approved the reactivation of the national anti-terrorism campaign, signifying national resolve with agreement from all stakeholders, including the provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The administration has decided to call an All Parties Conference (APC) in order to resolve the political parties’ concerns about Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, it was announced yesterday.
During this conference, PM Shehbaz wants to win over everyone’s trust, according to insiders.
Following the prime minister’s return, the APC’s date and time will be announced; it looks like it might happen by next week.
The opposition parties, including the PTI, voiced serious concerns regarding Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, requesting clarification on its parameters and a guarantee that all stakeholders would be treated with respect.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) has also expressed opposition to the operation.
Although the coalition partners of the government concur that Operation Azm-e-Istehkam is imperative and ought to start right away, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari recently said that the federal government ought to still convene with all parties to formulate a unified plan for the nation’s advancement.
What is Azm-e-Istehkam Operation?
The goal of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam is to completely and utterly remove terrorism and extremism. It would enhance efforts to curtail terrorist operations through regional cooperation within the political and diplomatic domains, while coordinating and aligning actions across numerous fronts to counter the threats.
With the full backing of all law enforcement authorities, the operation will support the armed forces’ redoubled and heightened operations. To ensure that criminals receive exemplary sentences, effective legislation will be enacted to address legal loopholes that impede the prosecution of terrorism-related cases.
Socioeconomic initiatives will be implemented in tandem with this campaign to address the legitimate concerns of the public and foster a climate that dissuades extremist behavior.
The forum reaffirmed that Pakistan’s struggle against extremism and terrorism is essential to the existence and well-being of the country. It was agreed that there would be consequences for anyone who dared to question the state’s authority.
The forum also discussed steps to provide Chinese nationals in Pakistan absolute security. New Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were released to improve the security environment for Chinese nationals in the nation after receiving permission from the prime minister.
