Arduous struggle: Terrorism great hurdle to progress, development, says CM

Shahbaz says every citizen should try to restore social peace.

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the National Action Plan had been formulated to rid the nation of terrorism and extremism.

He was speaking to provincial assembly members (MPAs) from various districts. Sharif said a decisive war was being waged against anti-state elements that had killed innocent citizens. He said victory was the only option in the war on terrorism as it would guarantee the survival and the progress of the nation. Sharif said victory on this front would also secure the future of the following generations. He said the nation would be rid of ‘the enemies of peace and humanity.’ Sharif said the nation was on the same page regarding the need to eliminate terrorism and terrorists would find no sanctuary in Pakistan.



He said anti-state elements had saddened the nation by orchestrating the Peshawar carnage. Sharif said they would be held accountable for the bloodshed. The chief minister said the time was ripe to eradicate the scourge of terrorism from the country.

The chief minister said terrorism was a great hurdle to national development and progress. Sharif said terrorism and lawlessness had resulted in losses of billions of rupees to the national economy. He said terrorism would be eradicated and the nation would be transformed into a welfare state in accordance with the vision of its founders.

Sharif said it was incumbent on every citizen to try and restore social peace. He said the implementation of the National Action Plan would eradicate terrorism from the nation. The chief minister said concerted efforts were being made to eradicate terrorism, extremism and sectarianism from the nation. He said the nation had unanimously vowed to eradicate terrorism. Sharif said sincere efforts being made in this regard guaranteed success and Pakistan would emerge as a haven of peace and tranquillity.



The chief minister said terrorists had mercilessly killed citizens including officials of the law enforcement agencies and the military. Sharif said eradicating terrorism was the need of the hour. He said the war on terrorism was being fought with fortitude. Sharif said the army was fighting terrorists with courage and determination and the nation was on the same page regarding the need to deal with such elements with an iron fist.

He said all religions stressed the need for love when dealing with children but the perpetrators of the Peshawar massacre had paid no heed to this and executed the brazen attack.

The chief minister said no leniency would be shown to those responsible for the incident.

Sharif said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had adopted a unanimous strategy regarding the war on terrorism after the national leadership had arrived at a consensus.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2015.