Lahore blast aftermath: PM vows to avenge blood of innocents
Nawaz says terrorists cannot break nation’s resolve; cancels trip to US
PM Nawaz inquires after the health of a blast victim at Jinnah hospital. PHOTO: APP
ISLAMABAD/LAHORE:
“We are keeping count of every drop of blood of our martyrs. This account is being settled. And we will not rest till it is paid in total,” the premier pledged in a televised address to the nation reeling from the horrific carnage in Lahore on Easter Sunday.
PM Nawaz said he was addressing the nation at a time when the heart of every Pakistani was broken and the whole nation was in the state of grief and sorrow due to the tragic Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park bombing.
“I know well what the message terrorists want to give by hitting soft targets. I know that after losing their sanctuaries, training camps and infrastructure, why some remnants are heading towards educational institutions, recreational points and public places to hide their failures and despondence,” he observed.
“But no terrorist can breach the wall of our determination,” the PM added. “This is my resolve, my government’s resolve as well as the resolve of 200 million people.”
He said the country was on the path of success despite repeated terror attacks, and the government is on track to make Pakistan the “land of happiness and success”.
While warning protesters without mentioning them, the premier said law would take its due course against those who create chaos in the name of religion and sectarianism. He added the government would not tolerate hatred, provocation or any other nefarious motives any more.
South Punjab operation
The premier also ordered stepping up intelligence-based operations in South Punjab, which has long been considered a nursery of extremist elements. The suspected suicide bomber who struck in Lahore was also from the same region.
While chairing a three-hour-long meeting in Lahore’s Model Town to review the security situation on Monday, he directed the law enforcement agencies to adopt an aggressive approach towards elimination of terrorists by taking the war against them to their doors, officials told The Express Tribune.
Top officials, including Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, attended the meeting.
According to a PM Office statement, the meeting was briefed by heads of law enforcement and intelligence agencies on different leads regarding the Lahore terror attack.
“Our goal is not only to eliminate terror infrastructure but also the extremist mindset, which is a threat to our way of life,” the statement quoted the PM as saying.
“Winning the war on terror is imperative for us,” he said. “Our resolve is getting stronger against terrorism and the coward enemy is hitting soft targets in utter desperation.”
However, insiders in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said the party leadership has principally decided to not requisite Rangers in Punjab to carry out surgical operations.
Sources said the PM was in no mood to call Rangers in the province and particularly to empower them with special policing powers under anti-terror laws as done in Sindh.
Visit to Jinnah hospital
Earlier, PM Nawaz along with Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar visited the Jinnah Hospital Lahore to inquire about the health of the injured victims of the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park bombing.
Visit to US cancelled
In view of the terrorist attack in Lahore, the premier also decided to cancel his planned visit to Washington DC to attend the Nuclear Security Summit.
Pakistan’s delegation to the summit will now be led by PM’s Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2016.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday promised to avenge the blood of innocent people and settle the account of terrorists once and for all, making clear his government’s resolve and the resolve of 200 million Pakistanis.
“We are keeping count of every drop of blood of our martyrs. This account is being settled. And we will not rest till it is paid in total,” the premier pledged in a televised address to the nation reeling from the horrific carnage in Lahore on Easter Sunday.
PM Nawaz said he was addressing the nation at a time when the heart of every Pakistani was broken and the whole nation was in the state of grief and sorrow due to the tragic Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park bombing.
“I know well what the message terrorists want to give by hitting soft targets. I know that after losing their sanctuaries, training camps and infrastructure, why some remnants are heading towards educational institutions, recreational points and public places to hide their failures and despondence,” he observed.
“But no terrorist can breach the wall of our determination,” the PM added. “This is my resolve, my government’s resolve as well as the resolve of 200 million people.”
He said the country was on the path of success despite repeated terror attacks, and the government is on track to make Pakistan the “land of happiness and success”.
While warning protesters without mentioning them, the premier said law would take its due course against those who create chaos in the name of religion and sectarianism. He added the government would not tolerate hatred, provocation or any other nefarious motives any more.
South Punjab operation
The premier also ordered stepping up intelligence-based operations in South Punjab, which has long been considered a nursery of extremist elements. The suspected suicide bomber who struck in Lahore was also from the same region.
While chairing a three-hour-long meeting in Lahore’s Model Town to review the security situation on Monday, he directed the law enforcement agencies to adopt an aggressive approach towards elimination of terrorists by taking the war against them to their doors, officials told The Express Tribune.
Top officials, including Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, attended the meeting.
According to a PM Office statement, the meeting was briefed by heads of law enforcement and intelligence agencies on different leads regarding the Lahore terror attack.
“Our goal is not only to eliminate terror infrastructure but also the extremist mindset, which is a threat to our way of life,” the statement quoted the PM as saying.
“Winning the war on terror is imperative for us,” he said. “Our resolve is getting stronger against terrorism and the coward enemy is hitting soft targets in utter desperation.”
However, insiders in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said the party leadership has principally decided to not requisite Rangers in Punjab to carry out surgical operations.
Sources said the PM was in no mood to call Rangers in the province and particularly to empower them with special policing powers under anti-terror laws as done in Sindh.
Visit to Jinnah hospital
Earlier, PM Nawaz along with Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar visited the Jinnah Hospital Lahore to inquire about the health of the injured victims of the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park bombing.
Visit to US cancelled
In view of the terrorist attack in Lahore, the premier also decided to cancel his planned visit to Washington DC to attend the Nuclear Security Summit.
Pakistan’s delegation to the summit will now be led by PM’s Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2016.