Islamabad, November 29, 2024 – The federal government has announced the formation of a high-level task force to take decisive action against individuals involved in creating unrest across the country. This decision was made during a security review meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who emphasized that no acts of anarchy disguised as protests would be tolerated.
The prime minister expressed his determination to bring the perpetrators to justice, stating:
“We will not be forgiven by history if stern action is not taken against the miscreants. Such incidents must never occur again in our lifetime.”
PM Shehbaz criticized the embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), describing it as a “group of saboteurs” and calling its founder “the biggest liar in the history of politics.”
Referring to the recent visit of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, PM Shehbaz highlighted the contrast between the high-level diplomatic dialogues and the violent protests in another part of the city.
“While crucial talks were taking place with the Belarusian president, protesters opened fire, resulting in the martyrdom of a police officer and three Rangers. Such violent acts brought shame to Pakistan,” he said.
He also criticized the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provincial government for its alleged inaction against conspiracies undermining the state. However, the premier praised the people of KP for condemning the violent events of November 24, asserting that the actions of a few did not reflect the values of the proud and dignified Pashtun community.
Key decisions
The newly formed task force will operate under the supervision of Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and include the law minister, the minister for economic affairs, the information minister, and representatives from security forces. The task force will be equipped with resources adhering to international standards to effectively counter and prevent unrest.
Additionally, the government has decided to:
- Establish a federal forensic lab equipped with state-of-the-art technology.
- Enhance the federal prosecution service to improve its effectiveness.
- Strengthen the capacity of individual law enforcement personnel.
Commitment to stability and growth
PM Shehbaz reaffirmed his government’s commitment to maintaining stability and thwarting any attempts to hinder the country’s economic growth and prosperity. He expressed confidence in the nation’s progress, stating:
“The country is on the verge of stability, and we will not allow any obstacles to derail this progress.”
The meeting was attended by prominent officials, including Chief of Army Staff Gen. Syed Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, federal ministers, and other high-ranking officials.
