PM slams PTI ‘for letting terrorists return’

Shehbaz accuses PTI-led provincial setup of not strengthening law-enforcement apparatus

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif slammed on Wednesday a lenient approach of the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) governments at the Centre and in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa towards terrorists and allowing them to return to the country.

Chairing a cabinet meeting, the prime minister recalled that the pervious Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) federal government during 2013-18 period had defeated terrorist elements through the Raddul Fasaad and Zarb-e-Azb operations and restored peace across Pakistan.

He also pointed out that the PTI was in government in K-P for the last 10 years and the province was given Rs417 billion since 2010 under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award but the money was not spent on strengthening the capacity of the law-enforcement apparatus.

“Who regarded the terrorists as ‘Jihadis’ and let them return to the country,” the prime minister asked, pointing out the lenient approach that led to the re-emergence of terrorists in K-P. “This money [Rs417 billion] was the province's right, but where it was spent,” he added.

“The funding was supposed to be used for the capacity-building of the K-P police and security forces, he said, referring to the establishment of the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta) and the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD).

At the start of the cabinet meeting, Shehbaz set aside the routine agenda to discuss the issue of terrorism. He vowed to wage a “united” fight against terrorism and warned that if urgent measures to control terrorism were not taken, it could spread to the rest of the country.

Shehbaz raised serious concern over the increase in terrorist attacks in K-P and said that the previous PTI-led provincial government had failed to maintain security despite the availability of special funds. “The nation wants accountability of [the previous] K-P government for the return of terrorism.”

The prime minister stated that K-P had been the frontline province in the war against terrorism and its sacrifices would always be remembered. He also lauded the courage and resilience of the people for bearing the brunt of terrorism.

He mentioned that several members of the political families from K-P lost their lives in terrorist incidents. “These invaluable sacrifices cannot be forgotten,” Shehbaz said, adding that it was painful that even minor children were among the martyrs in the recent suicide blast in Peshawar.

Later, “the federal cabinet, on behalf of the people of Pakistan and their elected government, strongly condemns the tragic incident of terrorism in the mosque of Police Lines Peshawar on 30th January 2023 and extends its heartfelt condolences and sympathies to all the bereaved families.”

In a unanimously-passed resolution, the cabinet urged all the political forces to unite against terrorists. “There is need of the time to have unity and one voice,” the resolution said. “Keeping political divisions and grudges aside, all political forces should unite in the interest of the country and the people.”

The minister stressed the need for all the political forces to unanimously agree on the agenda of ending terrorism “so that the requirements of national defence, security and peace and economy can be ensured in an efficient manner”.

The cabinet expresses its firm determination that all forms of terrorism would be eradicated and the lives and property of the people would be protected. It said that the K-P police and the CTD would be reorganised and steps would be taken to provide quality training and modern weapons to them.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)