Says attack on peaceful community was aimed at sabotaging progress. PHOTO: AFP
The deadly attack on the Ismaili community prompted the civil and military leadership to fly into Karachi for a high-level huddle. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the attack was aimed at sabotaging Pakistan’s economic progress. “But the government will avenge the killing of members of an innocent and peaceful community.”
Chairing the meeting at the Sindh Governor House, the premier directed all officials to ‘expedite’ the second phase of the ongoing surgical operation against criminals, terrorists and their abettors in Karachi. He said he wanted to see a decisive action.
Attendees at the meeting included army chief Gen Raheel Sharif, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, DG ISI Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar, Karachi Corps Commander Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, DG Rangers Maj Gen Bilal Akbar and MQM leaders Farooq Sattar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Abdul Rashid Godil. Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar was conspicuous by his absence.
“We must set our differences aside and take action against our enemies who seek to destabilise our economic agenda,” Premier Nawaz said referring to the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.
He termed the success of the Karachi operation a ‘joint progress’. “And this incident is a joint failure. We need to strengthen our intelligence communication mechanism and continue the operation until the last criminal is eliminated.”
Terming May 13 a ‘black day’ in the country’s history, the premier said: “My heart bleeds for the people who lost their lives. These cowardly attacks on innocent men, women and children cannot deter us from our resolve to eradicate terrorism.”
The meeting also discussed the performance of the National Action Plan and resolved to take action against all terrorist groups.
“The entire nation, irrespective of their political and other differences, should come forward to rid the country of our common enemy,” Nawaz said and directed the officials to submit a report on the attack within a week. “I hope my next visit to Karachi will not be because of such an incident.”
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif later told the media that the meeting had discussed sectarian, political and economic aspects of the attack.
“Terrorists have started killing police officials, political and sectarian workers and other vulnerable groups. It can be in reaction to the Fata operations or our economic agenda,” he said, adding that large amounts of money were being pumped into Pakistan to destabilise the country.
“We don’t want to indulge in a blame game. There is no need to discuss that, but we need to formulate a strategy for protecting Karachi from terrorists because the city is the lifeline of Pakistan.”
After the huddle, Premier Nawaz, Zardari and MQM leaders visited Ismaili community leader Sultan Ali Allana’s house and condoled with him and the victims’ families.
Following the premier’s departure to Islamabad, another high-level follow-up meeting was held in Karachi to devise the future course of action.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2015.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ