Sharif was speaking to reporters after the attack. He said the attack had saddened all Pakistanis. Sharif said those responsible for the incident deserved exemplary punishment.
The chief minister exhorted leaders across the political spectrum including Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, Awami National Party (ANP) president Asfandyar Wali Khan, Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) ameer Sirajul Haq and Maulana Fazlur Rehman of the Jamiat-i-Ulema-Fazl (JUI-F) among others to unite for the sake of the nation.
The chief minister said the time was ripe to jettison differences and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the military to rid the nation of the scourge of terror.
He said over 40,000 soldiers, civilians and policemen had been martyred in the fight against terrorism.
Sharif said he did not have words to describe the barbarity perpetuated in Peshawar. He said the government had announced a three-day mourning over the tragedy. The chief minister said funeral prayers for the deceased would be offered tomorrow. Sharif said the incident had reinforced the notion that terrorism and extremism was the gravest challenge confronting the nation.
He stressed the importance of national unity to rid Pakistan of the menace.
The CM said only the eradication of extremism would put the country back on the path of progress and development. Sharif said the army had been fighting terrorists valorously.
He said the operation in North Waziristan had been yielding positive results.
He said he had telephoned Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak and Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi to offer condolences on behalf of the government and the people of the Punjab and offered all kinds of assistance to the government of K-P.
Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman and Zaeem Qadri were also present.
Security for schools
Chief Secretary Naveed Akram Cheema directed officials on Tuesday to ensure foolproof security arrangements for educational institutions province-wide in the wake of the Peshawar attack.
He said officials of the Education Department and police should ensure that educational institutes abided by the rules and regulations.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2014.
COMMENTS (2)
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Hopefully you can stand united with others and not "tear open their stomachs". And actually do something while on the job.
You have been standing for too long and have done nothing. Hypocritical and double faced thugs should be ousted.