Shahbaz condemns terror attacks in KSA, France

CM meets Saudi, French ambassadors in Islamabad

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Tuesday went to French Embassy in Islamabad and met French Ambassador Martine Dorance. He strongly condemned the terror attack in the French city of Nice. He also recorded his impressions in the condolence book placed in the French embassy. The chief minister expressed a deep sense of sorrow and grief over the loss of innocent lives in the incident.

The chief minister said that sympathies of Pakistani people were with the families of the deceased. “Innocent people have been targeted in Nice and the people of Pakistan and the Punjab are with the government and people of France in this hour of grief. Terrorists are enemies of humanity and collective efforts are needed by the world community to root out this menace,” the CM said. He said that the elements involved in terrorist activities deserved no leniency.

Saudi ambassador

The chief minister met Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan Abdullah Marzouk Al-Zahrani in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Talking to the Saudi ambassador, the chief minister strongly condemned the blasts in Medina, Jeddah and Qatif during Ramazan. Paying tributes to the sacrifices of security personnel who were martyred in the attacks, the chief minister said that the Muslim ummah was deeply grieved over the attacks. He also prayed for the departed souls of the victims. “Security of Saudi Arabia is very dear to Pakistan. Sympathies of Pakistanis are with the Saudi government and people. Medina is the focus of love and reverence of two billion Muslims. The enemy has attacked the heart of Muslim Ummah and the soul of every Muslim is hurt over the bloodshed at our most sacred place,” he said.

Chinese ambassador

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif met Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong in Islamabad on Tuesday. Matters of mutual interest, promotion of bilateral relations between Pakistan and China and pace of work on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects were discussed at the meeting.

The chief minister said that friendship between Pakistan and China was getting stronger. “China is a sincere and trustworthy friend of Pakistan and has stood by it in every hour of need,” he said.

The chief minister said that the CPEC projects would be completed on time. “The CPEC has opened new avenues of progress in Pakistan. China is making a historic investment of $46 billion in Pakistan. Other countries of the region will also benefit from CPEC projects and it will promote economic and trade activities in the region,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2016.