Pakistan

Counter-terrorism flaws need to be removed: Sharif

Agencies June 06, 2010

LAHORE: Emphasising that terrorists have neither religion nor state, chief of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Nawaz Sharif said that flaws in the counter-terrorism strategy need to be removed in order for it to be effective.

Giving his views over a week after terrorists killed over 80 people in an attack on two Ahmadi places of worship in the city, Sharif said “Terrorists have neither religion nor state. The nation and its institutions are united in the war against terrorism. Wars against terrorism are fought by the people, not governments.”

He further said that the Ahmadis were also citizens of Pakistan. “Ahmadis are our brothers and sisters,” he said.

Sharif’s views on the attack came a day after Ahmadis expressed dismay over the Punjab government’s apathetic attitude towards protecting marginalised sections of society.

According to reports, one of the injured terrorists was allowed to use his cell phone in hospital and authorities even arranged a meeting between him and his family members.

The Ahmadis have severely criticised the provincial government for failing to get tough with the arrested militants.

The government and the people have to join hands to fight against terrorism, Sharif added. He urged the chief minister of Punjab to eliminate terrorism from the province as a matter of priority.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (14)

Mohsin Siddiqi | 14 years ago | Reply Nawaz Sharif's words: "Ahmadis are our brothers and sisters” are bold and are appreciated.

Amaar | 14 years ago | Reply Better late than never. But now he needs to beef up his courage and stand up to criticism from the religious groups.

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Hammad Rehan | 14 years ago | Reply Mr Nawaz Sharif has been very bold about saying that Ahmadis are our brother and sisters, it is true no doubt about it, and as far as elimination of terrrorism is concerned it is an uphill task and as the first step all those people should be arrested who spread the message of hatred and violence against anyone including Ahmadis, and also as a counter approach The Punjab Government should train the Police Elite Force Commandos of Sharpshooting, the Police is doing very well but there is still room for for more improvement.

Rafaqat | 14 years ago | Reply I am agree with you sulatan that we should move in right direction with out all prejudiced things as a great Nation.

malik | 14 years ago | Reply i do agree with miss sumrina... the shareef brothers are not brave enough to say something supporting ahamdies..., they are human beings so give them the rights what they deserve..... irrespective of the religion....!

Sohail Hyder | 14 years ago | Reply I believe a strong line must be drawn between religion and politics. While we storngly condemn this act of terrorism and feel apethetic about the loss of scores, we should not forget that Amadis are our fellow citizens, and nor brothers and sisters. As a muslim we can not dare to compromise on the holiness and completeness of prophethood through last profit Hazram Muhammad Mustafa Sallalaho Alai Hai Walahe Wasaalam. Again having said that no body is licensed to kill any one, but at the sme time dont malign the difference of Iman, that Ahmadis have sown themselves. Nawas Shareef's comment is an attempt to make his master, the western cronies happy to reconsider him as a moderate, liberal and open minded leader.

Sultan Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply Acceptable fact is that our brave armed forces fighting against insurgents on borders and tribal/lawless areas,they are success in their mission, God bless them all. As for as the federal government is concerned ,it has trying its best to finish the terrorism from the land. For this purpose it has contact world leaders and countries. You can see, recently European Union not only admired the efforts being made by Pakistan in regard to end the insurgency but also promised to provide unique package of assistance. Provincial government of Punjab, no doubt,is very afraid due to creating condition based on terrorism, it must be finish by the power of unity. deprivation is created when see the fight being fought through dialogue and warm statement between the center and province. Why this war? for this war? Some time i feel prime minister ship has become a disputed property between the personalities. No one can reject this view that existence of Pakistan is everything,everything is attributed to its security and integrity. It is need of the time to forget all wrong done in the past and move to the right direction, it is better for all,all of us including our forthcoming generations.

samrina hashmi | 14 years ago | Reply

 **Bohat deir ke Meharban Ate Ate**

Although he should have condemned the attack on the same day and 
Nawaz Shareef and Shehbaz Shareef should have visited the 
Places .They have lost POINTS on this front .
I had expected that a person like shehbaz sharif ,would definitely visit the mosques ,as he goes every where ,but he spoiled his image ,and sided with the right wings

Naseer Ahmad Nasir | 14 years ago | Reply May all Pakistani politicians thing positive abut every Pakistani. Discrimination against Ahmadis should be ended. Beucase, It is not time of hate. It is time of WAR. Muslims should unite against terrorism which is beleive to be in Muslim community. Who are doing Jihad in their minds. What value is of a Muslim Men in the world. just becuase of this kind of acts against civilians.

Rafaqat | 14 years ago | Reply Mr.SMJ.even you dont discloed your name then we can understand how mutch you are brave.Please don’t criticize on Past, If Nawaz Sharif wants to do well, so we should support him. in history if you will see there was many people they were bad but they proved them for example some enamels of Islam(Kafir) when they excepted Islam after this we found them a best Muslim. Please try to talk on Issues not on Personalities. If any one took a good stand on any National issues so we should appreciate him.Nawaz Sharif we all Nation with you on On terrorisms Issue.

SMJ | 14 years ago | Reply Sharif is right that radicalism and terrorism has to be condemned by the people more than the government. But Mr Sharif is forgetting that this radicalism is the gift of his own god father General Zia under whom Islamic radicalism flourished unchecked for a decade. Mr Sharif is also forgetting that people cannot confront the outrageous and now dangerous mullahs because not only they fear them but also their indoctrinated from early school days not to oppose them. The real problem with radicalism in Pakistan is the education and the school curiculum that condones and even preaches violence and religious intolerance. Today, this strategy is backfiring. Pakistan will not change without an immediate and radical reform of its educational system and social, democratic and political values. It has to cease portraying itself as an Islamic state if it wants a better collective future for its people and avoid becoming another Afghanistan, or probably set new records of internal combustion and destruction.

Sami | 14 years ago | Reply I believe that Mr. Nawaaz Saharif has been very bold and brave to give a staement such as this. He has truly defined the purpose of a true Pakistani. We all should be aware of our basic rights in this nation and as such the Ahmediya community is among them. They too have the right of security and are asset to the nation. They have produced great people from this nation like Dr.Abdus Salam the Nobel prize lauterate, Sir Zafarullah Khan and many others. It is a fact that he was one of the persons that was on the frontline along with Ahmediya community. As Mr. Nawaz Sharif has said, we should be united for peace and love to counter these tragic acts of violent terrorism.

Muhammed Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply Yes Nawaz sharif said as an unprejudiced leader so it’s appreciated. I want to add this we must draw a line between those who are supporting terrorist and who are fighting against terrorist then we can become a Nation, here one thing important to understand only those elements are supporting to terrorism which were against Pakistan during independent movement of Pakistan. We never can forget sacrifices of our brave Army who are fighting against terrorism. We all must support Pakistani army. And as a Muslim its our believe Pakistan and as a Muslim its our believe according to Education of Holy Quran which says "whosoever killed a person …it shall be as if he had killed all mankind" (5:33) or, "And create not disorder in the earth" (7:57

Imran Faris | 14 years ago | Reply Its appreciated as Nawaz Shairf said about Ahmdia community that they are our brother and sister and our national Asset and i am agree with him as he said that government and the people have to join hands to fight against terrorism.

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