LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League-N has decided to introduce a fresh legislation for countering acts of terrorism as part of its future strategy. The move is aimed at overcoming the menace through aggressive policies for ending social disparity along with stringent administrative rule in potential terrorism-breeding grounds in the federation.
PML-N President Mian Nawaz Sharif made it clear that his party would no longer sit at the fence, watching the country burning over an issue, which had the world’s attention focused on it. Chairing a meeting to discuss his party’s 2013 manifesto here on Saturday, Nawaz Sharif said the PML-N would have to think out-of-the-box to offer a solution to the imbroglio vis-à-vis terrorism from within or without the house well before and after the next general elections.
There was a general consensus among the top minds of the party over the fallout of rising extremism, crystallising into terrorism, and the consequent unrestrained war on terror being waged by the international community. Nawaz Sharif wanted some sort of order at both ends. However, he was of the strong belief that Pakistan needed to focus more on back home before making the world sit and revisit its adventurism, which, he thought, was proving counterproductive.
At the home front, Nawaz suggested stricter laws for handling these terrorist activities as the existing legal framework was riddled with lacunae, which helped terrorist slip away from the clutches of justice. In addition to new legislation, Nawaz also suggested revamping of the existing law-enforcing mechanism and infrastructure with establishment of special units in any shape not to be ruled out, if required. Also focusing on equipping the law-enforcers with latest gadgetry, Nawaz said it was as important as the legal power these agencies would need to meet the challenge.
By the time the judiciary’s role began, he added, the system should be so effective that no guilty should go scot-free and no innocent be penalised. He hinted at reforms for all stages, including the one that begins with the trial.
As far the social reforms, Nawaz said the PML-N’s manifesto should ensure redress of grievances of the backward areas, especially those being considered the nurseries of extremism. He wanted an active government role in providing equal opportunities to all citizens. He suggested even more focus on such areas, where the government could spend more on health, education, infrastructure and other aspects, which could help erase the concept of deprivation. Though, he went on to say, the tribal status of these areas could be an impediment, the government would have to find a way out where the people could be reached out in a bid to improve their living standards.
Without providing these people standard living comfort zone, it would be next to impossible to harness the situation and change it for the better. The PML-N thought gone were the times of ignoring any social segment for the costs were high in case of backlash. The social discrimination had yielded horrific results, and the country just didn’t afford more with the existing Frankenstein already looming large, threatening the sovereignty of Pakistan.
Apart from the ‘diagnose-to-treatment’ process for checking extremism and terrorism at the home-front, Nawaz suggested the party had the manifesto, envisaging a proactive diplomatic approach for making the Allies budge on the fact the blatant violation of international laws would not reap the desired results. Even if the Allies got closer to their objectives, the price-tag would be too high and the achieved goals would be too fragile to be protected for much longer. The PML-N’s manifesto would seek a reasonable restraint at the Allies’ end so further damage could be controlled. The PML-N wants only local involvement in countering terrorism through an effective multi-pronged strategy with Allies just giving assistance wherever required.
Apart from the war on terror, Nawaz Sharif also floated his vision of the future foreign policy. He wanted further consolidation in the existing ties with friends like Saudi Arabia and all other Muslim states.
Also taking stock of the proposed domestic economic and social measures, the PML-N would pursue under its manifesto, already discussed in the last meeting, Nawaz asked the participants to pool in their ideas before the manifesto is put before the party for final approval on Dec 1.
Once approved, the party would then decide to make it public within the next month.
PML-N President Mian Nawaz Sharif made it clear that his party would no longer sit at the fence, watching the country burning over an issue, which had the world’s attention focused on it. Chairing a meeting to discuss his party’s 2013 manifesto here on Saturday, Nawaz Sharif said the PML-N would have to think out-of-the-box to offer a solution to the imbroglio vis-à-vis terrorism from within or without the house well before and after the next general elections.
There was a general consensus among the top minds of the party over the fallout of rising extremism, crystallising into terrorism, and the consequent unrestrained war on terror being waged by the international community. Nawaz Sharif wanted some sort of order at both ends. However, he was of the strong belief that Pakistan needed to focus more on back home before making the world sit and revisit its adventurism, which, he thought, was proving counterproductive.
At the home front, Nawaz suggested stricter laws for handling these terrorist activities as the existing legal framework was riddled with lacunae, which helped terrorist slip away from the clutches of justice. In addition to new legislation, Nawaz also suggested revamping of the existing law-enforcing mechanism and infrastructure with establishment of special units in any shape not to be ruled out, if required. Also focusing on equipping the law-enforcers with latest gadgetry, Nawaz said it was as important as the legal power these agencies would need to meet the challenge.
By the time the judiciary’s role began, he added, the system should be so effective that no guilty should go scot-free and no innocent be penalised. He hinted at reforms for all stages, including the one that begins with the trial.
As far the social reforms, Nawaz said the PML-N’s manifesto should ensure redress of grievances of the backward areas, especially those being considered the nurseries of extremism. He wanted an active government role in providing equal opportunities to all citizens. He suggested even more focus on such areas, where the government could spend more on health, education, infrastructure and other aspects, which could help erase the concept of deprivation. Though, he went on to say, the tribal status of these areas could be an impediment, the government would have to find a way out where the people could be reached out in a bid to improve their living standards.
Without providing these people standard living comfort zone, it would be next to impossible to harness the situation and change it for the better. The PML-N thought gone were the times of ignoring any social segment for the costs were high in case of backlash. The social discrimination had yielded horrific results, and the country just didn’t afford more with the existing Frankenstein already looming large, threatening the sovereignty of Pakistan.
Apart from the ‘diagnose-to-treatment’ process for checking extremism and terrorism at the home-front, Nawaz suggested the party had the manifesto, envisaging a proactive diplomatic approach for making the Allies budge on the fact the blatant violation of international laws would not reap the desired results. Even if the Allies got closer to their objectives, the price-tag would be too high and the achieved goals would be too fragile to be protected for much longer. The PML-N’s manifesto would seek a reasonable restraint at the Allies’ end so further damage could be controlled. The PML-N wants only local involvement in countering terrorism through an effective multi-pronged strategy with Allies just giving assistance wherever required.
Apart from the war on terror, Nawaz Sharif also floated his vision of the future foreign policy. He wanted further consolidation in the existing ties with friends like Saudi Arabia and all other Muslim states.
Also taking stock of the proposed domestic economic and social measures, the PML-N would pursue under its manifesto, already discussed in the last meeting, Nawaz asked the participants to pool in their ideas before the manifesto is put before the party for final approval on Dec 1.
Once approved, the party would then decide to make it public within the next month.