Accompanied by former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Rehman said time has come to draw a line between the apologists and enemies of terrorists.
“The world has no idea of the level of sacrifices rendered by the people Pakistan in this fight against terrorism,” she said, as she reminded everyone that the frontline is not on the border but inside our homes and schools now.
“The terrorists have been targeting our men and women and now they are killing our children; they want to destroy our future” the PPP leader said, adding that this war cannot be won by courage alone. “Courage runs in our blood but what we need is planning and unity,” she stressed.
She further requested the media to play its role and make sure terrorist apologists are not given airtime. “Media also needs to hold the country’s leadership accountable to its promises,” she added.
“Whoever started this fire, our house is burning now and we will have put it out,” she said, adding that life cannot go on as usual anymore.
COMMENTS (42)
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You made the bed, now sleep in it. This needed to happen to get the army to do do something. Have you any idea how many poor children have been blown-up and no-one done anything. Then why do something now, hold on their the middle class army's children, I knew there was a snag somewhere.
The accomplices are none but the burqa wearing Maulana Abdul Aziz and JUD Hafiz Saeed. Let us see what action the government take on these two apologists.
@Leela4fun: Thank you leela. No one could have asked this question better.
@A Peshawary: She has been a voice of sanity if you look back. She was the one who stood up for Ahmadi who were killed in Lahore, 94 of them. She has been raising her voice for minorities and others while everyone else was calling Taliban their brothers.
@Adil: spot on
Another verbose statement of the obvious from Sherry Rehman.
@Salma: What Baloch said is truth. Truth always hurts.
This is why I hate the politicians and love the Army Gen. Sharif. The politcians talk endlessly (example Sherry Rehman) but do nothing. Sherry Rehman's PPP in power made no laws to effectively prosecute these terrorists and the result is most of them are let off free - scores were during PPP rule. Gen. Sharif talks little and does a lot. Immediately after this terrorist attack he went to Afganistan and spoke directly with the Afghan Presisdent and the ISAF chief. That is action and I have every confidence in him that he will deliver on his action.
Nice words Sherry. Now please explain why another terrorist and their abettor Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid was intentionally not properly prosecuted despite a wealth of evidence against him by your PPP government? As a result of your leadership (or lack thereof) he now roams free. Talk is cheap. We hold you responsible for the same allegations you level on the abettors.
@Hifsa: You Indians should be ashamed of yourselves coming on to Pakistani forums and lecturing us about terrorism, especially during this time of mourning. You made this same comment as Suryawardhan 10 hours ago. We know your agenda and see through your lies. It is your spy agencies that are behind these terrorists supplying them with financial and logistical support through Afghanistan. So save your breath and look inside to see the evil.
@reader: Great sir, you have identified the real problem of pakistani.e. per your perception the retarded Hindu commentators. . Can understand one of the reason for the present situation in Pakistan. Increase your tribe to push at the bottom.
So many of potentially bright kids laid to rest. This savagery is not only condemnable and tragic, but also enlightening. Terrorism is a behemoth supported and bred by various leaders in Pakistan as part of its foreign/ regional policy, it has now come to show its ugly face in the very backyard where it originated. Though this was not how we in India were expecting for you to realize this long pressing fact, I’m glad the Pakistanis are finally waking up to this monster looming large at its doorsteps. About time you stopped encouraging and fostering all forms of extremism.
@A Peshawary: " please ask her what sacrifices she has made except she wants to become bigger leader"
Since she is on the hitlist of the taliban, she must have done something good. Are you an apologist for he taliban she is talking about?
Media itself is occupied/ obcessed with religion. They have no coverage on Science,wildlife,world history ,Geography Or programs/serials in English languages which were once hit shows on PTV.
@in the name of love i think the actual biggest problem for pakistanis is tackling hindu retarded online commentators like you. islam i think has existed in pakistan since 1947. first suicide terrorist attack was in 2001. much after suicide terrorist attack in india had already killed indira gandis son. sitting PM.
Where is Bilawal Zardari? Has anyone heard anything from him yet?
Take the judge who gave lakhvi bail. He can be included in your accomplices list.
Ms Sherrry...it was your govt who issued moratorium on death penalty, due to which we have seen so much destruction. So, technically your party is also an accomplice in the death of so many people during your period & now. Similarly, PML N govt is also an accomplice because they continued with the death moratorium. Both the govt got under pressure from EU country for some economic benefit, but they did not weigh the cost benefit between human lives & the economic benefit, because both are incapable leaders & parties without vision.
We never learn from our past mistakes.....NACTA & NISP is dormant. APC should have continued till all loop holes are plugged in order to make a safe-proof anti-terrorist policy. These members of Parliament could sit in the Parliament for 2 weeks against dharnas & in case of the tragic incident in Peshawar, just 1 day ? they all have together killed 180 million people.
In Contrast, the Australian PM announced to hold immediate inquiry in café siege with regard to " how was the man not on police radar even though he was convicted more than once " Who is responsible for such a negligence & promised to provide the public the report. Can we do that ?
More than 200 kids drowned in S Korea Ship accident & their President resigned & here in our country, more than 60,000 people killed due to act of terrorism, no one own it & no one resigns ? not even symbolically ? what moral authority does these rulers have to rule ? Our rulers & those responsible should not think that they will get away on the day of judgment by shifting the blame on to the shoulders of its past govt....or any one junior to him....you all have blood in your hand. It will remain till the day of judgment. You will be answerable for each citizen killed / died under your watch. The way these rulers, CM, ministers, the bureaucrats & the elite class goes about their life, as if all is normal, go & ask from those parents who have lost their near & dear ones. I pray for the lost souls & also pray for those people who have yet not awaken from their deep slumber, who have no conscience or Zameer, please wake up ! people are dying around your luxurious life...please give up before it is taken away by Allah swt. Do not invite the wrath of those affected people.....please! you too have kids, brothers & sisters etc; you think money will continue to protect them ? insha Allah you will be surprised.
What happened in Peshawar Army School, is called a national tragedy...why ? Yes ! it is, but then similarly, was those killed previously not important, then why those killings did not receive such attention & nationwide condemnation ? This just to remind all, that those kids killed were as important to us as those all killed in the past in any part of the country. All are human being. Had we taken all those killed in the past with same seriousness, NACTA & NISP would have been made active & policy & formation of anti-terrorist force would have been there today at each province under a unified command.....many will criticize me for being un-emotional & bad timing, but I am as compassionate & emotional as any one, my outpour is due to compassion & emotion. This outpour is because, I know after few days people will forget it except those affected families & every one will return to their normal lives, can we afford that ? we should be in mourning till we get this scourge of terrorism away from our lives. Our action should show complete unity & support to all the families who lost their near & dear ones in their time of difficulties. We must be able to provide psychological support to them. We put all our resources in support of these affected people for their solace. All these will not bring back their near & dear ones, but we must be near them always by our action & deeds. This is all I can request you all. Please HELP the affected people of this nation to face the gravity of their loss. Our continued passivity to tackle this scourge has brought us to this stage wherein our elite class are also becoming a victim of the terrorism., this is what I feared & had commented in my many comments to similar subjects & today I stand vindicated feeling sad.
I would have gone a step further ... why not name and shame these traitors?
My thoughts go out to all the families and friends of the children impacted by this barbaric act. Terrorism has no religion and the world unites against those that kill in any name. Australians share your grief.
She should spend a month with the women and children in Tharparkar and practice with them together starvation diet!
These women shall tell her their perception of terrorists.......... THE DECADENT UPPER CLASS!!!
The biggest problem that pakistan has in tackling terrorism is Islam. It's different interpretations will allow people to be either justifying the holy war (which comes along with the terror attacks of the nature seen in peshawar) or giving a humanity a chance. There would never be people only on one side. ,
I am in full agreement with Shery Rehman.There is no space left for apologist for terrorist. These barbarians killed our children and these apologist still giving reasons for that. No way, an abettor in crime is also criminal too. He must be leveled the same sentence as terrorist is destined to.
If so........why is the Lal Masjid Maulana Abdul Aziz free and spewing hate ?......for our politicians talk is cheap.......action is not in their dictionary.
Yes this should even include leaders who did nothing when innocent children were droned to death by US in their schools Killing children is unforgivable and whoever does it deserves punishment
Madam, correct position but two problems (1) coming from a liberal will not be taken seriously and (2) timing is not right, people are angry and want revenge but will not change political or social views which will lead to confusion only.
@Baloch: Shame faced and angry am I to read this. Such comments are inhuman, unkind and smacks of mean streak. Terrorists are bred on such lines of thinking. You are sowing the seeds of hatred and meanness.
I would like a clarification... What about those apologists for a man carrying a $10M bounty on his head? Will he be feted as a philanthropist or treated as a murderer of innocent people? What about all the politicians and media persons who treat this person as a VIP? Shouldn't they be considered abettors?
Please spare us the sayings of these leaders who support corruption. Sherry should first look at her party's leaders who have cheated this nation by corruption, avoiding paying taxes before she dares open her mouth. First put Pakistan in order by removing these corrupt leaders before tackling the terrorists. Her party cannot even mange Sindh where there is everyday terrorism.
She is speaking on behalf of nation as we do not need leaders who have sympathy with terrorists. Its time for them to declare in clear words, are they siding with us or they are on the other side which has brought bloodshed of innocent children of Pakistan.
@Baloch : My friend, we haven't only harboured terrorists, we have harboured millions of refugees as well. But the worst we have harboured is a specific mindset imported from Arabia, that's the root cause of all our evils in the sub continent. ET please atleast today publish my comment because you usually end up censoring on this topic
Doing aerial bombing in FATA can never win the war against terror. The terrorists and their sympathizers are everywhere and so emboldened they never even allowed secular parties like ANP and PPP to campaign, on specious grounds in the last General Elections. The warning bells then should have rung out loud, however most citizens are so confused they are unable to see or recognize the threats the nation faces. Corruption can be overcome, overcoming a debilitating mindset that breeds terrorists can destroy a country with copious bloodshed.
At least now learn the lesson: THERE ARE NO GOOD TERRORISTS.
No words will be enough to reduce the grief of the parents who lost children - Now what's needed is action - Action of killing all these Taliban snakes who are living in our country and cities.
Much belated and much needed statement. Alas. It has indeed come a bit too late. At great cost, causing profound grief. There will still be powers that be that will try to exploit the situation, deflect the attention, and confuse the issues. But we must be clear in our understanding that the great enemy is in our midst, spreading fear, terror and death. We must look inwards and not become escapists by trying to apportion the blame to any external agency. Remember. It is children whom we lost. That should happen nowhere. And of course it should NOT happen to our own children too.
So many of potentially bright kids laid to rest. This savagery is not only condemnable and tragic, but also enlightening. Terrorism is a behemoth supported and bred by various leaders in Pakistan as part of its foreign/ regional policy, it has now come to show its ugly face in the very backyard where it originated. Though this was not how we in India were expecting for you to realize this long pressing fact, I'm glad the Pakistanis are finally waking up to this monster looming large at its doorsteps. About time you stopped encouraging and fostering all forms of extremism.
Who are these traitors? Some in the military and some politicians. They should be exposed and punished. They deserve nothing short of capital punishment.
Time to say as it is with absolute clarity and a vision. The people of Pakistan have been fooled in the name of Islam for far too long and the narrative has to be changed. Bombing Tirah valley and the FATA is not the solution - we have to stand up and count the black sheep out from amongst ourselves up and down the country,
Thank you Sherry for the statement. This is what is expected from the leadership in letter and spirit
Media: please ask her what sacrifices she has made except she wants to become bigger leader. Media please, can u tell the nation why are u giving to much importance to these failed people.