Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during a federal cabinet meeting, has given the green light to the Azm-e-Istehkam military operation, emphasizing that intelligence-based operations will be carried out against terrorists without causing disruption to the lives of ordinary citizens. The decision, taken in consultation with all stakeholders including provinces, Gilgit Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, aims to combat extremism and terrorism within the country.
The new counter-terrorism initiative, Azm-e-Istehkam, is designed as a multidimensional operation to uproot remnants of terrorism and violent extremism, rather than being a large-scale organized armed operation requiring mass displacement. This approach underscores the government’s commitment to eradicating all forms of terrorism while minimizing the impact on civilians.
However, opposition parties such as the PTI, JUI-F, and ANP have expressed concerns and called for parliament’s involvement in such critical decisions. In response, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has assured satisfying the opposition’s queries and emphasized creating a consensus among all parties.
Amid misunderstandings and speculations about the vision of Azm-e-Istehkam, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has clarified that the operation is a collective national vision focused on intensifying intelligence-based operations. The government has also highlighted that Azm-e-Istehkam is not a large-scale military operation necessitating population displacement.
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Furthermore, PPP leader Raza Rabbani has urged the government to establish a Parliamentary Committee on National Security, representing all political parties, to review Azm-e-Istehkam and ensure that legislation aligns with constitutional rights.
In response to the federal government’s clarification that the operation does not involve mass displacement or large-scale military operations, Raza Rabbani has called for a joint in-camera session of parliament to address internal terrorism concerns and foreign intelligence agency involvement. He also stressed the importance of enacting legislation through the Parliamentary Committee on National Security to prevent the enactment of draconian laws violating constitutional rights.
