Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. PHOTO: PID
Speaking at the National Assembly the interior minister said, "...but condemnations have to be made. People need to exercise restraint. We have to pacify ourselves."
Over 80 people were killed and 150 others injured in the twin suicide bombing that took place outside the All Saints church after Sunday mass came to an end. The bombing is believed to be the country’s deadliest attack on Christians.
No one has claimed responsibility for the incident.
Asserting that four security personnel were present on the site of the blast, Nisar said the federal government is working on a plan to ensure security at the religious sites across the country.
The interior minister added that the federal government has offered the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to bear the cost of reconstructing the religious site.
"The federal government will also bear the cost for providing rehabilitation to the people who are currently being treated," he said.
Commending the restraint that the Christian community showed following the attack, the interior minister said, "bishops, priests, father and community elders who showed patience have provided an exemplary lesson for the entire nation."
"When people had gathered around Lady Reading Hospital to protest, it was the community elders who asked them to restrain themselves," he said, adding that this should serve as a lesson for every Pakistani.
COMMENTS (36)
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While politicians dither, the taliban will prepare for yet another brutal bombing. We must not forget all the thousands of lives lost, the thousands of families future ruined, the loss of resources, the risk our police force faces daily, the loss to our GDP and a long etc. Yet the powers that be have not seen light. Citizens are demanding action against all terrorists, why can politicians not see our nation is being destroyed with demagogic hatred and intolerance. Please Choudry Nisar, do not consider words, rhetoric will get us nowhere. Serious action by our armed forces as applied in Swat is imperative to put the country on the path of peaceful times once again. The only language these terrorists understand is the one they use, unfortunately it is violence. Peace talks will not work unless they unarm first as was the case of the IRA. Spain was not successful with its peace talks as an ETA wing refused to disarm. It successfully pursued and jailed all ETA leaders and many members, dismembering their organisation.
no words eh? what are you going to use for dialogue ? sign language?
No words eh? with what are you going to have a dialogue with the monsters? sign language?
The state is not in control in Pakistan, and never will be.
@Ch. Allah Daad: Is this you?
@Na Maloom Afraad:
Who else do we know does the suicide bombings in Pakistan? Hindus, Jews, Westerners?
Since he is at a loss of words, let me recommend 2 alternatives: Alternative 1: I condemn all terrorists including TTP who are killing innocent PAkistanis and they have proved through their actions that we cannot hold talks with them. We will soon be ordering an operation against them.
Alternative 2: I resign because I do not have the courage to do what must be done to ensure safety of Pakistani civilians.
May I put words in your mouth ? "I resign" !!!
@Jibran: The present govt is just 100 days old....give them a break....what the last govt of PPP especially Mr Rehman Malik could not do in 5 years, you expect the govt of PML N to do in 100 days...? I m not a fan of anyone particular political party...all are most incompetent, but at least this govt under Mr Nisar is trying to identify problems at all level of different depts falling under his ministry....the biggest problem identified was that there is no co-ordination between different intel agencies, but each of these intel agencies are rather competing between each other at the expense of poor people....NACTA and IB was a dead dept and the MOI under Mr Nisar is trying to revive it...you expect the mess of 5 years to be cleared in 100 days ? the recent bombings of church is very sad, but there had been worst killings in almost all the provinces, and yet Mr Rehman Malik never resigned nor anybody demanded his resignation.....I tell you what ! it is not in our culture or in our dictionary to resign....nor is there any accountability, hence, no NAB chairman appointed yet.The whole social order and fabric is in mess and we are all responsible for the mess we are in TODAY!
The extremist Saudi view and agenda has poisoned the minds of Pakistanis. Now people are waking up, there is no end to bloodshed and heinous crimes all in the name of religion. The people who are supposed to protect the country are too busy doing business and commerce. Where has the soul of Pakistan gone? Wake up and demand on the streets for the Pakistani military to act. If they fall short then they should get help from allies.
How about resignation?
No one has claimed responsibility for the incident. I thought Jundullah faction of TTP has accepted responsibility ,and had threatened to keep targeting minorities.
@Obvious:
You are right Pakistan should have its own system and solution for its unique issues. However, I disagree with you when you type Iran in the same breath as Saudi Arabia as default. It is true that Saudi's are supporting the terrorist in pakistan to creat sectarianism and destabilization, but this is mainly a one way traffic, and now we can see that every one is their victim. Iran is not causing mischief by any stretch of imagination.
Not only that he is short of words, but also short of shame, integrity, and conscience, if not an outright collaborator of the crime.
@Mohammad ;; ask for secularism...ask for replication of american or singapore constitution at Pakistan.
@Na Maloom Afraad: Exactly the same mindset was prevalent there as well. So don't give us that crap. Remember the butcher of Baghdad.
My lovely Christian brothers & Sisters. I have no words but to say sorry from the utmost depth of my heart. Since you live in a muslim country, the muslims are to provide you security but what can I say, we failed miserably. I am sorry, I really am.
@Umer: who told you that the Taliban did that? these things continue until we keep our eyes close on pointing the real enemy. did these things happened before 911??? if the talibans are behind these, then who are doing the same thing in Iraq?
watch out apologists...they will not spare you when they are finished with us....
Thankfully your hands appear still free!
Just bomb their caves and hideouts. If nuke is less expensive, use it. Make them lifeless. Why is that when we need our armed forces they don't act immediately. Are their guns rusted and bombers forgot flying? Why they need government orders to defend us. Don't they already have it? Retire General Kayyani just few hours before his retirement and then watch what happens. Tanks and troops will be marching in Islamabad. When nothing happens to their status and perks, all we get are these stupid condemnations and permissions of action.
However expressing solidarity with Taliban comes naturally for PMLN. No loss of words there.
The issue is that platitudes after every atrocity are simply not enough. The presence of 4 security personnel means nothing if they are ill-trained and lack proper equipment. Why after so many years of bombings are we still not able to either catch the planners ?
As a muslim, can i request the bearded ones to learn from the Pakistani christian community. What a fine patriotic example. Bearded ones, please stop taking money from Iran and Saudi and destabilising Pakistan. If you like their ideaology so much, please go live there and leave Pakistan alone in peace.
If they want to get rid of terrorism they must defeat the ideologists armed or unarmed Taliban in mountain or a fasadi mullah in every street,ghairat brigade in the guise of 'senior analyst' pseudo politicians or whoever exploiting religion or nationalist sentiments.
Now I seem to understand when people used to write "first they came after......."
The whole PMLN leadership is at a loss for words when there is need to condemn Taliban.
Had it been in the tenure of previous administration, his statemnt would have been different altogether. Neverthless, it remains to be seen what he intends to do next, other than shallow statements.
Because you do not want to condemn Taliban that is why you are 'at a loss for words'.
Ch. Nisar will now understand the predicaments of Rehman Malik and ANP.
Thank You. Now resign & go home.
If you do your job peroperly, you won't face this "Loss of Words" ... Pakistanis are now sick of statements and bluffs given by governments, we want action....are we the Pakistanis are so cheap that we die, we mourn and than we forget.
When we will be out of this mess, when Army and our forces will go for final call.
You are not at a loss of words, but at a loss of actions.
Ch. Nisar's portfolio should be changed from the interior minister to the condemnation and announcement minister. He still thinks he's in opposition, and mere statements will do his job.
Ch. Nisar has proved to be the most incompetent interior minister of all times. He must be fired. Instead of coming up with what his ministry has done so far with regards to the investigation, and showing his resolve to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of this heinous crime, he's merely doing routine lip service just like what the other advocate of the terrorists did in the press conference yesterday.
Let me remind you Chaudhary sahib. You are the interior minister, the man incharge and power. To whom you are condemning to? your job is to take swift action and bring the killers to justice very very quickly. Only then you will be able to prevent future killings. You condemning it seems like you are apealing to terrorist for mercy!