Time has come for bold decisions: Pakistani army chief (Third Lead)

The Pakistani Army chief, General Raheel Sharif, said Wednesday that the time has come to take bold decisions and to ensure their effective implementation.

He vowed that "through unity we will emerge triumphant over the two-faced bane of terrorism and extremism" while addressing a meeting of a parliamentary panel in Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's residence.

He said the cancer of terrorism has caused big damage to Pakistan.

The army chief assured that Pakistan army would extend its all out cooperation to the government in crushing the menace of terrorism.

"We owe it to the next generations to eliminate this scourge," he added.

He said operation Zarb-e-Azb was progressing effectively in the militancy-infested tribal belt of Pakistan.

Earlier, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Q (PML-Q) and Qwami Watan Party (QWP) extended their support to the formation of more military courts in Pakistan.

Howver, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) and the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam- Fazl (JUI-F) raised objections to the idea of military courts.

Meanwhile, the Awami National Party (ANP) has sought more time on the matter.

In Wednesdasy's meeting, Prime Minister Sharif said the country was facing an unusual situation and if strong measures were not taken, it would be unacceptable for the nation.

"Terrorism is a cancer-like disease and history will never forgive us if it is not treated now. The responsibility rests on all of us, and we have to take tough decisions against those who want to rip the country apart, those who are killing innocent children and have no mercy in their hearts," he added.

The meeting was held in the light of the Dec 16 Taliban attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that left more than 140 students and teachers dead.