ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Monday his government will not allow the terrorists to resurface and play with the lives of people.
“This is my resolve, my government’s resolve, as well as the resolve of 200 million people. Insha Allah, no terrorist can breach the wall of our determination,” the prime minister said in a televised address to the nation. He said he was addressing the nation at a time when the heart of every Pakistani was broken and the whole nation was in the state of grief and sorrow due to the tragic Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park terror incident. “I know well the message terrorists want to give by hitting soft targets. I know that after losing their sanctuaries, training camps and infrastructure, why some remnants are heading towards educational institutions, recreational points and public places to hide their failure and despondence,” he remarked.
“I am here to renew this pledge that we are keeping count of every drop of blood of our martyrs; this account is being settled; and we will not rest till it is paid in toto,” the prime minister stressed while making it clear that creating lawlessness through arson, anarchy, damaging government property and creation of problems for people was unacceptable. “Any leniency in this regard should not be construed as weakness of the state and helplessness of the law enforcement agencies. Protection of public lives and property is the constitutional obligation of the government,” he added.
Till this moment, he said, the government had showed greater fortitude, so that the elements playing with the religious sentiments of people should not succeed. The prime minister said that after assuming power in June 2013, his government had resolved to eliminate terrorism. He lamented that no one during the past 13 years had dared to confront the menace. For the first time, his government with strong political will started its journey and after the rigid attitude of the terrorists, it was decided to launch the Operation Zarb-e-Azb, he added.
The prime minister said, “Our armed forces, police and civil security institutions offered sacrifices to take the operation to the advanced stage. We have achieved major objectives through this operation, but our mission to completely efface the cancer of terrorism will continue.” Islam is a religion of peace, security, love and affection as it has maintained that the killing of one person is like that of slaying the whole humanity, he added. He said that the Muslims are the followers of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who is a great benefactor to the whole world as he taught humanity the lessons of behaving well with others through good behaviour and sublime character.
The prime minister also prayed for the martyrs of Gulshan Iqbal Park attack and sympathised with the bereaved families. He said he had met the injured in different hospitals of Lahore and realised how high their spirits were. This also strengthened the government’s resolve in the fight against terrorism, he added. The prime minister said he would not rest till the return of smiles on the faces of affected families. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said during the last few months, the terrorists had targeted innocent people in Peshawar, Quetta, Mardan, Shabqadar and other places.
He made it clear that those creating violence, fanning hatred and sectarianism, and creating problems for the masses would surely be brought to justice. He said terrorism had become a global challenge, not only for Pakistan but also the whole world. Such wave of terrorism had recently been seen in Ankara, Istanbul, Brussels and Paris, he added. Nawaz Sharif said, “Enemies of humanity have crossed the limits of morality.”
