Shehbaz vows no mercy for terrorists
The nation's top leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, are on the same page when it comes to dealing with the scourge of terrorism. While Shehbaz has warned of no talks or mercy for miscreants, Zardari orders key stakeholders to eliminate militancy in all its forms.
In the wake of devastating and synchronised terror attacks in Balochistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has delivered a strong message, asserting that no dialogue could be held with the enemy, and a "soft approach" in dealing with them was out of the question.
Addressing a cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday, PM Shehbaz said that the time has come to up-root terrorism, adding that the government would provide all necessary resources to the armed forces.
"Doors of negotiations are open only for those who recognise the constitution and flag of Pakistan, but there is no room for terrorists," he declared.
The premier vowed that the terrorists' nefarious intentions would fail, and they would be crushed. "Come what may," he reiterated, "terrorism will be eradicated."
Announcing his upcoming visit to Balochistan to assess the situation, PM Shehbaz called on the nation to recognise its enemies and unite to defeat them. He asserted that terrorists were mistaken if they thought they could spread terror by killing innocent people.
"The time has come to eliminate terrorism," he said firmly. "The sacrifices being rendered for the cause will never be squandered."
The cabinet approved Rs20 billion for Azm-e-Istehkam initiative.
During the meeting, the prime minister reiterated his openness to talks with those who believe in the supremacy of Pakistan's constitution and respect its flag.
However, he made it clear that there could be no leniency towards enemies masquerading as friends. "This is a clear message," he said, adding, "There are no two opinions on this."
Referring to the recent killing of passengers in Balochistan, PM Shehbaz underscored that such heinous acts could not terrorise the people. "These unholy designs are merely aimed at stalling the country's progress and undermining the relationship between Pakistan and China," he remarked.
Assuring that the government would fully support the armed forces in combating terrorism, the prime minister stated that Chief of the Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and the armed forces were deter-mined to eliminate this menace.
"Inshallah, their nefarious designs will be foiled, provided we identify our enemies and forge unity to eliminate them," he added.
Calling the recent incidents a "moment of reflection", PM Shehbaz reiterated that there was no place for terrorists in Pakistan. He announced his imminent visit to Balochistan to discuss the situation in depth and decide on immediate measures.
In the wake of several violent attacks in Balochistan, including the Rarasham incident in the Musakhel district where 23 passengers were brutally killed, and another gun attack in Kalat claiming the lives of at least 10 people, PM Shehbaz expressed deep regret.
He noted that over 50 citizens, including security personnel, had been martyred in recent incidents.
"Innocent people were killed in Dera Ismail Khan and Karak as well," the prime minister lamented, pointing to the Khawarij terrorists operating from across the Afghan border.
Condemning the attacks, PM Shehbaz said that the terrorists aimed to disrupt Pakistan's progress, par-ticularly targeting the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other development projects.
"The terrorists want to create a rift between Pakistan and China as well as anarchy within the country," he stated.
The premier and cabinet members began the session by condemning the recent terror attacks and offer-ing Fateha for the victims. He also acknowledged the government's ongoing efforts to hold the Afghan authorities accountable for TTP terrorists operating from their soil.
President meets Bugti, Naqvi
President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday ordered Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Balochistan Chief Min-ister Sarfraz Bugti to implement decisive and comprehensive actions to eradicate terrorism in light of the recent surge in violence across the nation.
This call to action follows a deadly wave of attacks late Sunday night, when militants affiliated with the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)a notorious separatist groupunleashed a series of coor-dinated assaults throughout Balochistan. The militants specifically targeted security forces and civilians, with a particular focus on those from Punjab.
The violence resulted in the tragic loss of at least 50 lives, including 14 security personnel. The militants wreaked havoc across the province, attacking police stations, demolishing railway tracks, and setting nearly three dozen vehicles ablaze.
In response to the escalating security crisis, President Zardari convened a meeting with the interior min-ister and the chief minister to review the deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan. During the meeting, the president was briefed on the recent terror incidents and the current security challenges.
A statement from the President House detailed the discussions, highlighting various proposals aimed at restoring law and order in Balochistan. President Zardari emphasised the urgent need for effective strat-egies to achieve the "complete elimination of terrorists."
"The security situation in Balochistan must be improved at all costs," President Zardari urged the offi-cials. He underscored the importance of swift and decisive action to restore peace and stability in the region.
Separately, the Balochistan chief minister and interior minister vowed to respond to the series of syn-chronised terrorist attacks in the strongest manner possible
During a press conference in Quetta, Minister Naqvi, who made a daytrip to the city, assured the public that while no large-scale military operations were planned, the government was committed to address-ing the threats and supporting local law enforcement.
He emphasised that miscreants were under close surveillance and would face a robust response in the coming days. Minister Naqvi expressed solidarity with Balochistan, condemning the attacks as cowardly and reaffirming the federal government's commitment to restoring peace in the region.
Bugti thanked Naqvi for his visit and reassured citizens that the provincial government was taking all necessary steps to combat terrorism, despite the challenges posed by Balochistan's vast road network.
Following the press conference, Minister Naqvi led a high-level meeting with security forces leaders to discuss strategies to improve law and order in the province. The government is focused on preventing further violence and ensuring the safety of Balochistan's citizens.
Naqvi expressed strong support for Chief Minister Bugti's efforts and condemned the attacks as coward-ly acts aimed at destabilising the region. "These attacks target the most vulnerable in our society, but we are resolute in our mission to overcome these challenges," Naqvi said. He reiterated the federal govern-ment's commitment to resolving Balochistan's security issues.
Later on, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met Federal Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti. During the meeting, the interior and chief ministers provided the PM with a detailed briefing on security and the overall situation in Balochistan.
Shehbaz condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan, describing them as cowardly acts that cannot be justified. He praised the brave security forces for thwarting the terrorists' plans by sacrificing their lives. He ordered that every possible measure be taken to improve the law and order situation in the province.