Lahore (Staff Report): Federal government on Monday approved Rangers’ deployment in the Punjab.
The Punjab government has sent a summery to the federal government, requesting to allow Rangers’ deployment across the province. The summery was sent after a committee held on Sunday, under the chair of chief minister Shahbaz Sharif.
The meeting decided that the scope of operation against terrorists in Punjab would be expanded with the help of intelligence agencies to eradicate terrorism. It was also decided to adopt zero tolerance policy against terrorists. Earlier, the provincial government decided to seek paramilitary Rangers’ assistance in anti-terrorism operations, Dunya news reported.
As per the decisions taken in Sunday’s meeting, the facilitators of suicide attackers would also be taken as ‘jet black terrorists’ while action will be launched against those found guilty of providing them shelter and residence.
According to the sources, it was also revealed to the attendees that the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar group was being supported by Lashkar-e-Jhangvi network in Punjab.
National Security Adviser (r) Lt-Gen Nasser Khan Janjua, Corps Commander Lahore Lt-Gen Sadiq Ali, provincial Minister for Counter-Terrorism Colonel (r) Muhammad Ayub, DG Punjab Rangers Major-General Azhar Naveed Hayat, General Officer Commanding 10th Division Major-General Sardar Tariq Aman, Chief Secretary Captain (r) Zahid Saeed, Inspector General Police Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera, Secretary Interior Major (r) Azam Sulaiman Khan and several high-ranking civil and military officers attended the meeting.
