QUETTA: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday said that until the end of terrorism in KP and Balochistan, the country cannot progress. He called for national unity to rid the country of the scourge of terrorism.
The premier visited Quetta in the aftermath of the attack on a passenger train in Bolan by terrorists and at a meeting on law and order was briefed by Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti.
Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Sharif said that terrorists who attacked the train in Bolan did not even care about the sanctity of Ramadan. He said helpless passengers were taken hostage, but security forces led by the army chief successfully rescued 339 passengers.
He thanked the Zarrar company of SSG on behalf of the people and the government for its role in the rescue operation, adding Zarrar had been created to deal with such terror incidents.
He said that the entire nation was shocked and saddened over the incident of Jaffar Express. Pakistan can no longer afford another such accident, everyone has to contribute for eliminating terrorism.
He said the entire nation was in shock over the attack on the passenger train. The way the narrative of the enemies of the country was run by our eastern neighbour was regrettable.
The prime minister said poison is being spewed against the country and the Pakistan Army. What can be a bigger anti-national agenda than the army being humiliated; it cannot be allowed. The soldiers and officers of Pakistan Army are making sacrifices day and night in Balochistan and KP. These officers and jawans are saving millions of children from being orphaned by making sacrifices. If we do not respect these sacrifices, we will be accountable in the world and the hereafter.
He said we will also call an all-parties conference to discuss the problems of Balochistan. He said terrorists were using every tactic to create division among the people. At this time, national unity is urgently needed. We will continue to do our own politics but will have to come together against terrorism.
The Prime Minister said the decision to accede by Balochistan to Pakistan was taken by you – the people of the province. The accession of Balochistan to Pakistan will last forever. I did not come to Balochistan for any point scoring. We should learn from the past and move forward. The political leadership of Pakistan should sit and discuss the challenges facing the country, he added.
