Gilani sets up committee to curb terrorism

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has set up a high-powered strategy group to curb terrorism following the Marriott Hotel blast.

The committee was announced Tuesday at a security meeting called by Gilani in the wake of the Saturday bombing of Islamabad's Marriott Hotel, which killed at least 53 people, Dawn reported.

The report quoted a source as saying the committee will be headed by Rehman Malik, adviser to Gilani on interior affairs, and include the secretaries of interior, foreign affairs and information ministries, the military corps commander in Rawalpindi, and the directors-general of Pakistan's spy agency the Inter-Services Intelligence and the Federal Investigation Agency.

The committee, which must present its report in three days, will suggest best measures to prevent or foil suicide attacks in the country, especially in Islamabad, the source said, adding it will not have authority to decide whether the government should hold talks with militants.

Separately, Gilani urged the country's Islamic legal and other scholars to help root out terrorism and extremism in the country, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan reported. Gilani noted suicide attacks are not sanctioned by Islam or any other religion.

Gilani said his government is determined to integrate the tribal areas into the rest of the nation.