ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reiterated the government’s commitment to eliminate terrorism through united national efforts, saying peace, stability and prosperity remain Pakistan’s top priorities.
Chairing a meeting of the Qaumi Paigham-e-Aman Committee (QPAC), the prime minister said the forum would play a key role in strengthening the national narrative against extremism and terrorism, drawing parallels with the historic role of ulema during the creation of Pakistan.
Calling terrorism the country’s most serious challenge, PM Shehbaz said the task was difficult but achievable with collective resolve. He noted that over 100,000 Pakistanis have sacrificed their lives in the fight against terrorism and urged the international community to recognise these sacrifices.
The prime minister’s remarks come amid a surge in terror incidents since the Afghan Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021. According to ISPR data, law enforcement agencies carried out more than 75,000 intelligence-based operations across Pakistan in 2025, killing 2,597 terrorists.
PM Shehbaz also said Pakistan has concrete evidence of external support to terrorist groups and expressed confidence that the country would once again defeat terrorism.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the national narrative promoting peace and discouraging extremism would be further strengthened. He added that QPAC members would visit different regions to counter hate-based narratives and spread the message of peace.
Tarar announced that a two-day conference would be held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing together ulema from all schools of thought to promote harmony and reject terrorism.
Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman and QPAC Coordinator Hafiz Muhammad Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi said committee members would visit terrorism-affected areas, engage with communities, scholars and the armed forces, and act as ambassadors of peace.
Participants, including ulema from various schools of thought and minority representatives, unanimously declared terrorists and Fitna-al-Khawarij as enemies of the state and stressed the need to counter anti-state narratives, especially by positively engaging the youth.