PHOTO: AFP
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has warned the terrorists behind the Charsadda attack of a ‘ruthless response from the state’, as the premier and the army chief resolved that the war against terrorism and extremism would continue with full might.
“Cowards and their financiers will see our national resolve to eliminate terror from the country,” said PM Nawaz. “The entire nation is united and one against terrorism.”
Bacha Khan University carnage condemned
Twenty-one people — 18 of them students — were killed and more than two dozen injured on Wednesday when terrorists stormed the Bacha Khan University in Charsadda district near Peshawar and opened fire.
Condemning the vicious assault, the premier said that those involved in killing innocent people have no faith or religion.
“We are determined in our commitment to wipe out terrorism from our homeland,” he said. “The countless sacrifices made by our countrymen will not go in vain. Inshallah!”
Nawaz also called Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif to discuss the attack. They concurred that the entire nation was supporting the war on terror and that it would be taken to its logical conclusion. The prime minister appreciated the Pakistan Army units’ prompt response in securing the area.
He directed all security agencies to hunt down the patrons and financiers of the Charsadda attack, and to eliminate all terrorists at the earliest.
He also directed Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Safron Minister Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Yousaf and State Minister for Federal Education Balighur Rehman to extend their maximum support to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government and law enforcement agencies.
World leaders condemn the ‘cowardly attack’
The premier also called K-P Governor Mehtab Abbasi and Awami National Party leader Asfandyar Wali Khan to condemn the attack and convey his condolences.
He said the attack was not carried out on the Bacha Khan University’s students but on the entire country.
PM Nawaz has announced that a day of mourning would be observed across the country on Thursday (today) in the wake of the tragedy.
The national flag will be flown half-mast on all government and semi-government buildings in the country, as well as at Pakistani missions abroad.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2016.
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