Joint efforts: Citizens should play a role in fighting terrorism: CM

Chief minister meets PML-N office bearers.

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif urged citizens and their representatives on Monday to play their role in fighting terrorism and setting up a peaceful society.

“The terrorists have committed barbaric acts against innocent children and teachers in Peshawar. Due to the sacrifices of the martyrs, the whole nation has united against terrorism,” he said. Sharif was talking to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz office bearers, who called on him.

He said that elements playing with innocent lives would not escape punishment. “Collective decisions taken for the eradication of terrorism are yielding positive results. Pakistan will win the war against terrorism,” he said.

The chief minister said that the dream of a prosperous Pakistan could not be realised without the elimination of terrorism, extremism and sectarianism. “Peace is essential for the promotion of investment. Problems like poverty and unemployment can only be solved by promoting investment and industrialisation in the country,” Shahbaz said.

He said that terrorism had created hurdles in the process of national progress. “Victory is the only option in the war against terrorism. Terrorism will be rooted out from the country through the bold leadership of Nawaz Sharif and the courageous decisions taken by him,” he said.

He said that sincere and serious efforts to rid the country of the menace of terrorism would succeed and terrorists would be held accountable for the blood of innocent Pakistanis. He said that the National Action Plan was effective strategy to cope with terrorism and sectarianism.

“The Punjab government is taking the measures necessary to implement the National Action Plan to eradicate terrorism. The courageous people of the country have rendered supreme sacrifices in the war against terrorism and the efforts to root out this scourge will succeed,” he said.

He said that he firmly believed that all problems could be overcome with commitment and determination. “The Pakistani nation has expressed its resolve to eradicate terrorism on a permanent basis. Promotion of tolerance, restraint and brotherhood is essential for setting up a peaceful society. The nefarious designs of terrorists will be foiled by the unity of the masses,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 27^th, 2015.