Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will convene an All-Parties Conference (APC) soon to take the country’s political parties into confidence on the government’s Vision Azm-e-Istehkam, aimed at eradicating terrorism from the country.
Reportedly, the prime minister will deliberate with advisers on the best date to organize the APC, as the government strives to revive a flagging national counter-terrorism drive in a bid to restore stability and attract foreign investment into the country. Once a date has been finalized, per government officials, it would be shared with the public.
Announced last month, Vision Azm-e-Istehkam aims to adopt a whole-of-system approach that boosts coordination between provinces and the federal government to counter terrorism and incitement in a bid to achieve stability and security. Its announcement, coming after Sharif’s visit to China, was met with criticism from the opposition, which has claimed military operations are not the solution to the current resurgence of terrorism. In a subsequent clarification, the Prime Minister’s Office made clear Azm-e-Istehkam was not a kinetic military operation.
Despite the opposition, however, the federal cabinet approved the launch of the initiative last week, with Defense Minister Khawaja Asif telling media all parties would be taken into confidence over the necessity of tackling all militancy without any exceptions.
PTI to attend APC
In an informal interaction with journalists at Adiala Jail, PTI founder Imran Khan said his party would participate in the APC to hear what the government has to say. Acknowledging his party’s reservations over the proposed initiative, however, Khan claimed it would “only lead to further instability.”