Terrorism increased as provinces' role in NAP ignored: PM.

LAHORE -- Criticising the previous government for its alleged negligence in implementing the National Action Plan (NAP), Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday vowed to restore the role of provinces in the plan.

Chairing a meeting on law and order here, the prime minister lamented that the role of the provinces in the implementation of NAP had been ignored during the last four years [when PTI was in power] which led to an increase in acts of terrorism in the country.

'This role of the provinces will be restored that remained missing during the last four years,' a statement quoted him as saying.

The 20-point NAP was devAised in the wake of December 2014 terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar.

When contacted by Dawn, a senior security official spelled out how provinces had not fulfilled their responsibilities that had been defined in NAP.

Shehbaz praises performance of law enforcement agencies on fulfilling FATF action plan

The official requesting anoAnymity said, '...provinAces were to make legal, judicial, police and madressah reforms, ban hate literature, [ensure] de-weaponisation and impart special training to the civil security agencies. But unfortunately, that has not happened at the provincial level'.

Prime Minister Sharif streAssed that ensuring law and ordAer and a peaceful atmosphere in the country was a prerequisite for restoring national economy and development.

He said entire nation was united on the anti-terrorism narrative, standing behind the armed forces and law-enforcement agencies.

He said the fight against terrorism would continue till the elimination of the menace and pledged never to compromise on Pakistan's security and defence.

The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the steps to eliminate the sources of terror financing and relevant laws.

The prime minister appreciated the performance of the law-enforcement agencies regarding the fulfillment of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan.

The Paris-based FATF recently announced that Pakistan had implemented the two...