Terror-free Pakistan: No place off-limits in hunt for terrorists, says Gen Raheel

Army chief says terrorists will be chased and hunted down anywhere in the country

LAHORE:

Army chief General Raheel Sharif said on Saturday that the military will chase and hunt down terrorists anywhere in the country in order to eliminate this menace and bequeath a ‘terror-free Pakistan’ to the next generation.

“We are taking the menace of terrorism head-on and will go anywhere in the country to eliminate it in totality,” Gen Raheel said while addressing the third convocation of the CMH’s Medical College in Lahore.

We have to collectively put in efforts to give our next generation a terror-free country and to provide them a conducive environment that would help them to apply their knowledge and creativity to achieve optimum level for national growth, he said.

Gen Raheel said the army besides performing its role as the custodian of the country’s frontiers has always been in the forefront in terms of its contribution to national development. The entrenched role of the Army Medical Corps in the thick of things in serious disasters, calamities and military operations against the evil of terrorism and extremism has been highly impressive.

The army chief said physical, mental and social health was a prelude to a strong nation and provision of professional health services to the common man must be everyone’s priority.

He added that extensive and continuous research is our national need without which no institution can achieve excellence.

He emphasised the need to have greater faith in the young generation as the future belonged to them.

Later, the army chief awarded degrees and medals to the passing out students. Commander Lahore Corps Lt Gen Naweed Zaman was also present at the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2015.