Fixing responsibility: Quetta atrocity planned across border, says Nisar

Says militants are no longer operating from Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Tuesday claimed that the attack on Quetta’s Police Training Centre was planned outside the country and stated that terrorists were now operating from across the border.

He said that the enemy wanted to shatter the nation’s confidence by carrying out terrorist activities after a break of every two to three months.

At least 61 security personnel were killed, and 122 others were injured as terrorists stormed the New Sariab Police Training College on the outskirts of the provincial capital late Monday night.

“We have to remain alert as this war [against terror] is ongoing and will continue… Terrorists are now operating from across the border,” Nisar said while addressing a passing-out parade of police officers at the National Police Academy in Islamabad.

“Our enemy has been weakened but has not been eliminated yet,” the interior minister said, adding the remnant elements will be defeated at all costs.



He stressed over the need for putting security on constant high alert to fight terrorism and criminals more effectively.

“Pakistan needs heroes. Our security agencies are rendering sacrifices daily and you have to take forward their legacy and write a new chapter of valour,” Nisar said.

The minister highlighted the importance of team work, saying that all personnel will have different capacity but a good leader always takes his team along by overcoming their deficiencies and boosting morale.

He congratulated the graduating officers for stepping in a new professional life and reminded them their responsibilities to safeguard national interest and maintaining peace in the society.

Nisar advised them to always uphold the principle of fair play and perform their duties with dedication and honesty, saying “your decision can lead a person to the gallows and save another from the gallows, so always fear Allah, speak the truth and do justice.”

The minister thanked the international partners collaborating in the specialised training programme and assisting the LEAs in their capacity-building exercises.

He admired the eight officers from Balochistan and two lady officers who were part of the passing out batch of ASPs.

Earlier, the Interior Minister along with the Commandant of National Police Academy inspected the parade of six platoons of police.  The minister distributed prizes among best performing officers.

Earlier, participants of the ceremony offered Fateha for martyrs of the Police Training Centre Quetta and prayed for the early recovery of the injured on request of the interior minister.

Nisar termed the incident tragic and expressed grief over the loss of precious lives.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2016.