Pakistan to amend anti-terror laws to expedite trial of terrorists: Nawaz Sharif

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday said the anti-terror laws will be amended to expedite the trial of people arrested in terror related cases, as pressure mounted on his government to take decisive steps to eradicate terrorism after the Peshawar school massacre.

Sharif visited the army headquarters in Rawalpindi where he chaired a high-level meeting on national security and discussed the security situation after the horrendous attack on the army-run school that left 148 dead, mostly students.

Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and senior military and civilian officials attended the meeting.

The Prime Minister assured the military for all support including amendments in the anti-terror laws to expedite the trial of people arrested in terror related incidents.

State-run Associated Press of Pakistan said the meeting also focused on the ongoing Zarb-e-Azb operation in North Waziristan and the future course of action following the recent attack by terrorists.

A senior official said that the leadership agreed to expand the targeted operation in other tribal areas where militants are still having their hideouts.

The meeting also discussed the steps needed to assure security after decision to hang militants convicted for committing terrorism.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said the execution of death row prisoners will begin in three to four days.

In the first phase, some 17 terrorists would be hanged while 45 in the second phase before initiating the last phase, completing the execution of remaining over 8,000 death row prisoners.

Pakistan is still recovering from the shock of Peshawar tragedy which has been condemned by entire nation.

PTI