The National Action Plan’s Apex Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has resolved to intensify efforts against elements involved in spreading propaganda through social media platforms from abroad.

The meeting, held in Islamabad, was attended by federal ministers, all four provincial chief ministers, chief secretaries, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan. Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir, heads of intelligence agencies, and the Director-General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) were also present.

According to sources, the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of political consensus and promoting a positive national narrative to address Pakistan’s challenges. The committee declared that political stability is integral to the success of the government’s Stability Mission.

Key Highlights of the Meeting

Reaffirmation of national security:

General Asim Munir reiterated the military’s commitment to protecting the public and combating terrorism. A comprehensive briefing was provided on strategies to counter terrorism, religious extremism, and misinformation campaigns.

Revitalisation of NACTA:

Discussions included reactivating the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) and establishing threat identification centres to enhance security capabilities.

Protection of foreign nationals:

A detailed report on security measures for foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens, was reviewed. The committee resolved to make security arrangements more foolproof.

Combatting digital terrorism:

Participants strongly agreed on the need to tackle “digital terrorists” and curb the spread of fake news and misinformation. The forum decided to deploy all available tools to counter social media propaganda.

Unified response against extremism:

The committee unanimously agreed to eliminate all forms of extremism and declared that no group would be allowed to exploit public protests for creating unrest.

Discussions on November 26 incident

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif clarified the government’s stance on the November 26 protests, stating that no orders were given to use live ammunition against demonstrators. However, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expressed concerns over the casualties, claiming that dozens of party workers were martyred.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to ensure coordination among federal and provincial governments and provide essential resources to security forces combating terrorism. A renewed pledge was made to safeguard federal and provincial capitals against potential threats.

The Apex Committee emphasised that collective and decisive action is the only way forward to ensure national security and economic stability.