Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairperson Imran Khan. PHOTO: INP
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday denounced the attacks on Karachi airport and Shia pilgrims in Balochistan and called upon top officials to step down and take responsibility for the security lapses.
“It is a complete failure on the part of the government and state to protect key installations and citizens’ lives and those under whose watch this happened must immediately take responsibility and resign,” the core committee noted in a meeting, chaired by the PTI chief Imran Khan.
According to the handout released after the meeting, the core committee also condemned the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for the attack on Karachi airport and demanded that the government take effective measures to cope with the situation.
“It was a complete security and intelligence failure. Lessons from the Mehran base incident were not learnt and the airport attack was a repeat of that earlier terrorist attack,” the committee observed.
The committee also called into question the measures taken by federal and provincial governments to ensure security of the vulnerable Shia pilgrims.
“It is inexplicable why the provincial and federal governments have failed to provide security to Shia pilgrims in Balochistan, despite repeated targeting of Zaireen in that province,” it noted.
Criticising the government, the committee said the government had failed in its basic duty to protect its citizens as well as strategic installations like airports.
“In any functioning democracy the government will be held accountable by parliament for such severe security lapses at strategic installations and repeated inability to protect those of its citizens, whom it knows are being singled out for targeted attacks,” it said.
It said it was time for the government to admit its total failure in governance.
“[Government’s] first responsibility is protecting the lives of its citizens followed by securing its sensitive installations like airports, which are the gateway to the country,” the core committee said.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2014.
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Some very naive comments here.
How can anybody be mindless enough to talk about DI Khan Jail break? PTI govt was only 1 month old! That was the legacy of previous govt.
Give most of the comments here, no wonder Pakistan is in crisis!
Once an issue is discussed it must.be kept in mind "it Islamic Republic of Pakistan " not a community republic of Pakistan,as human ever community whether Muslim or non Muslim is equal for basic needs, no one is special to exagagerate an issue, niether the politicians should exploit to get sympathies , The principles.Of Islam do not need interpretation of a community these are as clear as day to even non Muslims„ the community leadership and their,blind followers must.resolve their issues with their counter parts insted of blaming State Government, throwing filth on politicians or blamming any other, the possitive criticism must not be targeted but generalised ,puppets of sponsors
the best work of opposition is to criticize the government so that it can improve the country and thts wht imran is doing and this is real democracy! as pakistanies we spent most of the time in dictatorships so it not easy for people to understand tht this criticism pressurizes the government to take security measures to save the lives as care is better than cure! imran khan actually changed the monopolistic approach of two parties of pakistan think about it plz!
@Shaista Ali Honestly it is very hard to argue any of the points you are making!
@H Chaudhry: Sorry in Islam there is no such thing as personal life and public life - may I remind you that there will not be two queues on the day of judgment. Lack of integrity rules out people for the top job or any governing job plus the Constitution of Pakistan REQUIRES (unlike in the west) a ruler to be of good character. Now IK hasn't learnt any lessons. The latest news is that IK has been true to his "former self" and is now expecting his fourth child from a 21 year old again from a billionaire's family (he always holds true to his materialistic values while feigning distaste for wealth). Still think he is the annointed one Mr Chaudhry? Well the majority of people in Pakistan do not and I am one of them. IK can hoodwink some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time.
@Strategic Asset: I heard an interview of Hamid Mir where he categorically stated that during a visit to the US Ms Bhutto told the Americans that Taliban are a good people. My sister-may her soul rest in peace was Ms Bhutto's strong supporter since her visit to India with her dad. I donot want to continue with this discussion- due to sad memories. Thanx.
@Shaista I am by no means IK supporter but I think you are bit over the line on discussing IK's personal life. I support PMLN and one thing that I do not like when people get in to personal lives of NS etc. Similarly, I wouldn't like for any one to get in to personal issues of any other politician. You do bring up good point that if a guy did not make a right decision with wife, how may he run the Government, well people learn from mistakes. IK is better than most politicians including the ones I support in PMLN (economic reasons). I will leave it at that..
It is not only IKs demand but the demand of whole Pakistan. Seven people burned alive while the officials were busy in photo session. Mr BEAN was wasting peoples time inside the airport for media coverage and Khawaja Asif never arrived. The CAA comes under Khawaja Asif’s ministry. These Chudhryies, Mians and Khwajas and there VIP protocol is killing ordinary citizens very brutally. Its time to get rid of Fake Ameer-ul-Momineen and his VIP security costing millions to tax payers every day.
@Jibran: I concur your thoughts. Not only Ch. Nisar but Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Qaim Ali Shah, Khurshid Shah must all be fired. And if Gen. Raheel Sharif is incompetent he needs to be asked to resign like General Jahangir Karamat.
Bunch of incompetents are running Government, Armed Froces, Intelligence Agencies, Bureaucracy. All needs to scrutinized and fired. I hope there are people in government, in armed forces, intelligence and in bureaucracy who should have pride and take these measures to save Pakistan.
I will only take IK seriously if he takes 100 lashes for the zina he committed not once but several times. Should be 100 lashes x Allah knows but certainly multiple times. It is not good enough to say "It is between me and Allah and I have repented" - yes it is between you and Allah but the punishment under Sharia needs to be taken here and perhaps there as well depending on Allah's rahm but CERTAINLY HERE NO IFS NO BUTS. Sharia is not only to be meted out to the poor but to all regardless. You need to be man enough to take the requisite lashes.
Now another thing: someone who has failed miserably in most of his life decisions, in his choice of wife, in his upbringing of children all three of whom are kafirs, in his negation of ensuring Islamic upbringing for his children which is the gravest sin before Allah, failure to uphold Islamic values by still fraternising with his ex-wife, failure time and time again in his political judgment which most importantly is clouded by his open support of avowed terrorists bent on destroying Pakistan, in his gigantic complex vis a vis the west socially - we overseas Pakistanis know you through and through IK and have zilch respect for you. Please go away perhaps to the west where you feel so at home. We do not need you in Pakistan to deliberately sabotage all the government and army's earnest efforts in restoring peace and prosperity to Pakistan.
maaf kardo khan sahab ab.. its enough
Imran should learn somethings from Modi. Just the name of Modi is enough to send shivers down the spine of his enemies. Pakisan needs such strong and decisive leaders to take on ttp and the likes. Imran does not have any qualities of a strong leader that can save Pakistan which is heading for total collapse.
Please tell "Champion" khan to concentrate on his own party's province of KPK and ask the police chief and CM to step down for the rape of a 22 year old. For which no action has been taken.
And the west has been telling you this for how long???????? DONT NOGOSHEATE WITH TERROIST!!!!!!!!!!!! Now you know why! First Osama bin laden ......now this??? Pakistan what's happening to you?
@Kiani: If you are denying PPP sacrifices against terrorism you are distorting history.BB her life for that cause. Who can forget sacrifices of ANP.How Ifthikhar son was killed by terrorist and shahadit of Bashir Balour. Reham Malik always reached at venue of terrotism.Can you compare with CH Nasar.How you can down play heroic decisions of swat and south Waziristan. Please don't equate these confused peoplewith PPP aand ANP
IK, it is you who is responsible for pressurising government into negotiating with mad barbarians into policy. You ought to resign, you have the blood of hundreds if not thousands on your hands for giving these barbarians respect that translates into power. Shame on you. Your ignorance is beyond belief...
Imran Khan, when Government was doing what you wanted them to do that is negotiation. There was no attack for good 4 months but than you and other cronies derailed those without being ready and here is the result.
Yes, top officials must step down for failures including Interior Minister but what about Generals sitting in GHQ, billions of unaudited funding to ISI, what about Mr. Zaheer?
@Tahir Shabbir:
Dear It means that u accepting that Tali-bans are against the foreigners. Let me remand u that before 9/11 there was peace in Pakistan. But when we declare that we will support the foreigners by allowing them to use our roads, airports etc against the talibans. In reactions to that talibans are satisfying their acts in Pakistan. Still there is time that we focus on our country and stop to interfere in other matters. and Also think that who create Talibans??? and who are further strengthening them???? From where they are getting funds..??? Is there any difference remain btw us and foreigners from tali-ban point of view after 9/11????The ASF performed admirably. The failure of security lies on the shoulders who are in charge of planning the bigger picture. Our system of patronage and extortion must end. Uniformed forces whether civilian or military should primarily be responsible to the Law and then to mission parameters not to the whim and inflated egos of corrupt administrators. The Police must not be subject to intimidation by politicians or any other nor should it suffer patronage and interference. It should truly be a professional law enforcement force. All personnel on VIP guard duty should be immediately recalled. A democracy does not have VIPs.
Imran Khan why dont you tell TTP stop killing innocent people.
IK just don't deserve to talk like this. He's one of the culprit who has added liquor in fire. He's the one who has played a vital role in delaying the operation against Taliban and Talibanisation.
His speeches are the major factor due to which Talibanisation has increased in the past couple of years. The youth of Pakistan who supports IK have no idea what they are doing, I would say that they are "IMMATURE" nothing else.
I would request the youth of this nation that please, please for the sake of this country "our Mother Land" support operation against taliban, study hard, get yourself enroll in Arm forces, get into business, be entrepreneurs, build your character in a manner that influences the global audience, work on your/ our ethics/ culture/ norms and help your neighbors in achieving these goals.
Concert being arranged in Bahawal pur on 22 June 2014 just next to PTi jalsa. Main participants will be: Khuaja Saad laila So bazz Noori naath abid billi Rana Naseeebo
Dont miss it!
@Jabran: IK is talking with proof. Why dont you accept the failure of the governemnt. Did not you see how the 7 people died in the cold storage. Dont you see the results of PEMRA for NA-118. Why are you not answers these basic questions? Instead of answering these questions you jump on to ask about KPK performance. hahaha. That means you cant answer the question and want to divert the attention.
@Ammar: Did u really mean it? hahahahhaa......the timing was perfect.
@youth: The biggest oppertunist is nawaz shareef. He took the exact and best oppurtunity to rig the elections and get falsely elected.
@Ammar: Good for you Sir
Dear Mr.Khan,
Here are a few facts about the operation. .. ASF jawans sacrificed their lives and managed to contain the militants within the specific section until the rapid response commandos arrived within shortest possible time...taking over the situation, the heavily armed militants were retreated and killed within 4 hours... This is a very good example of a successful combat mission...
At least u could have shown some solidarity with the special forces and Jawans...but as depicted earlier U R A BiG disappointed as always. ..
It means Imran Khan forget about we are living in Pakistan. The politicians are here lust of power and money. Why they will resign for loss of some innocent and ordinary citizens of Pakistan.
Now PTI can press their demand for resignation of P.M. Nawaz Sharif & C.M. Shahbaz Sharif because both are concentrating in Punjab especially Lahore. They are P.M. and C.M.of Lahore only.
They have step brothers and half brothers attitude against Sindh Province especially Karachi. They forget that Pakistan is import oriented country and the more than 70% revenues are collecting by the Federal Government from Karachi.
@mimmi: This forum ia not for kids...
Yar, I cant understand why people do not think about our security forces. Specially about army. Militants were Uzbek and Afghani I think. How they have crossed borders in presence of our beloved Army. Reports saying that they used arms from India. lolz. As per my knowledge, we have borders between India and Pakistan. How such arms reached to Karachi when our beloved Army is there. Rangers are doing operations since long, what kind of operation are they doing if some people still have rocket launchers and other bombs.
We must admit that our Army with other security forces are involved. And as far as shahadat is concerned so yes, some of our innocent officers die for the nation.
These attacks were nothing but security lapse. Our Police, Army, CIA, FIA and all other agencies are involved. They are corrupt. Sell our lives and get money from all over the world. We should not consider India our enemy.. Our forces and politicians are more than enough and we do not need any other enemy until and unless we have them...
Imran never talks sense. Criticism is the easiest thing to do in this world and Imran is doing the same.
@Dr Priyanka: Would you change your opinion after watching this video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWKPKCZcyvo
Why the Pak army and the security Forces are not able to finish these "haramyan" once and for all. This is the biggest fitna. May Allah save our beloved country Pakistan and the peoples of Pakistan from these devil worshipers.
And another thing from this jahil pakistani to those all highly educated people against PTI that apposition party ka role he yahe hota hai to see defeats and criticise it and thats what IK is doing
What this man has brought to Pakistan never has any politicians in current time. IK should be praise for what ever he do not nawaz sharif or his brother. Pakistanio ahsan farosh mat bano
If Hamid Mir is to be believed, I believe in front of him Ms Bhutto was telling the Americans that the Taliban are a good people. I had great admiration for her, but she might have made a mistake there.
Please IK your country is in a crisis and the people are confused, worried, sad and angry. In such times you have to help the leadership and not criticise it and console the people. Do a course on political sciences.
Imran Khan these terrorist of TTP came to karachi to open their office
The "top officials" should be named and shamed.
Why "The Blind" can not see that PTI is a new party and FIRST Time they are ruling... where as PML-N 3rd time????
Can't you see changes in KPK? and what these brothers are doing in Federal and Provisional Govts.?? Expect announcing METRO Projects and Naseebo Lal's Musical Shows! After ruling for more than a decade still they don't know what to do?? How they can criticize PTI when they were doing same protests against PPP Govt. in the past.
Most of Top positions are vacant because of incompetent people in the ruling party and they want to deploy only their LOYALS!
This man is an oppotunist. Pakistan is suffering from many internal and external threats while this man is doing politics and arranging public rallies. Shame for him and his dirty politics.
Mr. Khan, this is not the time of point scoring.
@Adnan The Americans were foreigners and the Afghan Taliban are widely seen as fighting foreign occupation. However TTP are Pakistanis.. killing Pakistanis in a state of war with Pakistan....So what do we do? Negotiate.. Yeah we did that .. They responded by butchering unarmed captives.
Or may be we should simply hand over the country to Taliban khan ad he will do a General Niazi number and hand it right over to the hairy barbarians and go back to the UK and spend a happy life with his ex wife and kids.
@Insafian If PMLN and PPP bunch is corrupt then PTI is Hypocrite. I dont see any diference among them.
ALL THE COUNTRY WANTS TO GET RID OF THESE CORRUPT LEADERS OF PPP AND PMLN. Shame on them. IK IS 100% right.
Imran Khan is nothing but the Arvind Kejrival of Pakistan. The way people of India kicked Arvind Kejrial who was a shouting "Change , Change" , I am sure people of Pakistan now knows a fake PTI also. I mean I always thought Asad Umar is only sane voice in PTi but when I found Asad is in PTI , his one brother is in PMLN ( infant he is chief of Privatization ) and another brother in PPP. What that say ? SMQ and JH is total Makhdooms that rules since PMLN and PPP times. They are actually feudals of centuries. There is no way we can trust IK anymore. He is certified casanova of past ....Man We need some real leader. I am sure should of Quaid-E-Azam Jinnah must ne crying in Heaven after seeing his own creation. .
Ik has done good to raise the security lapse issue. as per condemning Ik for peace negotiation with Taliban, can anyone tell me. that till today is there any supreme force that has defeated taliban.. Even US is negotiating with them for Peace.. Do we have bigger Resources and Army than US.. US Army has badly failed in Afghanistan fighting against Taliban from Last 13-14 years.. So those are mads who are thinking that we will finish Militants by army operation..
@abc: Why feel proud over need less deaths . The tendency to take pride in the unnecessary deaths of brave soldiers in the very prime of their youth is a sign helplessness not bravery . Instead of taking pride in these shameless deaths the need is to responsiblity . The leadership need to find resolve to defeat this evil that is stalking Pakistan .
Cannot believe mentioning this but Imran Khan is 1000% correct. What I cannot believe mentioning is that Zardari was far better than Sharif, even he would not let something like this happen with Rehman Malik in charge.
@V for Vendetta: They have taken necessary steps after that incident. Due to their efforts no such event is repeated yet. The Di Khan event took place i think in the first three months when the start ruling KP.. But security situation has become to much better in KP as it was in previous Govt.
IK is angry man and a danger to Pakistan, his love to become PM is now getting in the way of being a normal person. For once I would suggest he mature up and work for the betterment of the country and stop venting. He does not realise how much he is alienating his support by these outbursts.
First u step down for Bannu escape. Cheap blame game politics
I hate to say Rehman Malik was better than Choudhary Nisar atleast he could speak to media and keep people updated...and PMLN seems so confused that one minister saying no more talks and other says we will continue talks....I think MNS should have guts to talk to media and clear his policy if he got one... Mian sab Shair bano
Good Joke.....
How many higher ups resigned in past over similar incidents.....errrrggh.... including from your side in KP over terrorists acts such as jail break???
No one will bothe to comment on this as al they want is to criticize PTI..Till now i have not seen any government official naming TTP and criticizing them..
"the core committee also condemned the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for the attack on Karachi airport and demanded that the government take effective measures to cope with the situation"
step down so that he can start muzakrat.
Down with PMLN. People die in the cold store of Airport, girls raped, poor left without food, load shedding in hot weather. While PM is busy working on Metro bus only and giving gifts to Modi's mother..
They must be charged and placed behind bars. Total Failure by PMLN. Tribute to young soldiers who sacrificed there lives and made us proud.
May I kniw how man top officials from KP resigned after shameful D.I khan jail break?
Do you really think this govt will step down who has won this elections by fraud?
Khan Sahab,
Instead of blaming, Just realise that Taliban should not be given talks offer while Pakistan being at soft side ( defensive). Please support government, and kill the Taliban who want to destroy the country, If they surrender, talks should be OK.
Imranullah Khan should also step down. Along with the other so called alleged leaders. He promised a lot of things will change in 90 days. It's been one year. He should step down.
Top officials are not going to step down. They are least concerned about terrorists and would not touch them because there only interest is in keeping their government running so that they can loot and plunder the country.
It seems the PML-N government like the last government of the PPP has no interest in providing safety to citizens !. It seems like always the huge intelligence service is again sleeping.
Also PML-N and PTI please have some sense and wake up there is no point in have peace talks with mad "terrorists". At how much more costs will these two parties continue to give peace talk another chance...
It is good to see PTI FINALLY condemning the TTP. However, other than simply "demanding that the government take effective measures to cope with the situation" what are they are doing themselves about the terrorist problem? Isn't the PTI in power in the province with the largest terrorist presence? Now that the writing is on the wall, that a full-fledged war will have to be fought by the state against the terrorist groups, PTI stops short of committing to the cause themselves.
People with half a brain have been saying a billion times that talks and negotiations with murderous thugs whose only goal is political power for themselves will never yield a result that could be considered good for the citizens of Pakistan. I wonder when Imran Khan will apologize for his constant stance of peace talks and moral support for the TTP. It will also be a miracle to expect the PTI Troll Brigade to issue any apologies for blindly following their leader instead of exercising their own critical thinking.
Easy to criticize. In the kind of enviroment that we live, how much can be covered and for how long.? Yes the Pakistan government has to spend more on internal security, time wise, money wise, training wise, equipment wise. We are living in unparallelled insecure times. This was coming, the kind of environment that Pakistan is located and has created for itself, kind of intolerance within, all adds up. This is not only a security problem, it is a political, social, moral, ethical, economic, religious, ethnic, awareness problem, i.e. there are many facets. The government is quite incapable of resolving all these issues, because their view point is very narrow, myopic. Pakistan state, its people i.e. the nation has to be united in these difficult and trying conditions without the active participation of people to reject unconditionally terrorism, reject intolerance, reject bigotry, reject force as a means to resolve issues, these incidents may repeat. In the meantime all concerned have to be very very very alert. That would be perhaps the best that can undermine the perpetrators.
Hey Brother, please don't table demands as if we live in Europe or America. Chillax, let the family rule - let them suck some more blood.
Errr.... Just curious: How many ppl in KP Govt resigned over DI Khan jail break and other incidents in KP?
It is not only IKs demand but the demand of whole Pakistan. Seven people burned alive while the officials were busy in photo session. Mr BEAN was wasting peoples time inside the airport for media coverage and Khawaja Asif never arrived. The CAA comes under Khawaja Asif's ministry. These Chudhryies, Mians and Khwajas and there VIP protocol is killing ordinary citizens very brutally. Its time to get rid of Fake Ameer-ul-momineen and his vip security costing millions to tax payers every day.
"the core committee also condemned the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for the attack on Karachi airport" Still some ignorant people would say the PTI never condemns Talibans.
Somebody should get this man a permanent UK visa. And maybe sponsor a free air ticket and give him a red-carpet sendoff. He also needs anger-management classes.
"Empty vessels make most noise."
On what basis Imran is criticizing. He is biggest critics of all out offensive against Taliban s.He is one who frustrated efforts to evolve consensus against Talibans.
Starting with Chaudhry Nisar. The incompetent chap must be fired immediately. All he has done is conspiring against the government functionaries, and acting as the apologist of the terrorists.
Oh well, if that's the case then IK should lead others while he asks them to step down -_-
Mr Khan, It is easy to criticise. Express solidarity with the people and government at the time of crisis. Do not try extract political mileage.