PM, COAS review security situation after Peshawar mosque blast

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on Monday visited Peshawar following the suicide bombing at a provincial capital’s mosque which left at least 59 people dead and around 157 injured earlier today.

The PM was accompanied by Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan and Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

During his visit to the provincial capital, the prime minister also chaired a hurriedly-called meeting on law and order situation, which was attended by top security officials including the army chief.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Shehbaz said the cowardly terror attacks could not weaken resolve of the nation against terrorism and the miscreants and their facilitators involved in attacks on innocent citizens would be punished for their heinous crimes.

The Corps Commander Peshawar briefed the prime minister about the motives behind the terror attacks.

Inspector-General Police Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Muazzam Jah Ansari presented the initial investigation report about the suicide attack on the mosque.

The PM was also shown CCTV footage of the suicide attack on the Police Lines mosque.

The participants of the meeting offered fateha for the martyred, sympathised with the bereaved families and prayed for the early recovery of the injured.

The prime minister said terrorists were attacking the security institutions which were defending Pakistan, adding that the terrorists were making a nefarious attempt to create an atmosphere of fear and terror.

The strength of unity of institutions and people would foil the designs of terrorists, he said, adding that Pakistan had rendered great sacrifices against terrorism and sacrifices of the martyrs would not go in vain.

PM Shehbaz said capacity of the anti-terrorism institutions and police would be enhanced and National Action Plan (NAP) would be implemented comprehensively and with full force.

Later, the prime minister visited the Lady Reading Hospital to inquire after the injured of the blast.

The prime minister visited different wards of the hospital and met the injured. He directed the hospital administration to provide best medical facilities to the injured.

Speaking during his visit, he said those who shed blood of the worshippers could not be Muslims.

The criminals behind the terror attack would not be absolved by Allah Almighty, he said pledging to root out the terrorists.

Also read: At least 32 martyred, 150 injured in Peshawar Police Line mosque blast

He said attack on the innocent citizens during prayers in the mosque and in the name of Islam was worst of acts.

People of Pakistan had identified the real faces of the extremist elements who had a baseless ideology and were misinterpreting the religion, he added.

Earlier on his arrival at the hospital, the prime minister was received by caretaker Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Azam Khan, Adviser to the PM on Political Affairs Engr Amir Muqam, and Inspector General of Police Muazzam Jah Ansari.

Later in tweets, the PM said terrorism was the foremost national security challenge.