Pak PM Shehbaz Sharif acknowledges failure to avert Peshawar carnage; requires ‘nationwide unity’

In the wake of the current suicide bombing in Pakistan’s Peshawar metropolis of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday known as for nationwide unity to struggle the menace of terrorism.

Sharif introduced that he’ll name a gathering of the All Parties Conference on February 7 to debate militancy (Photo: File)

By Press Trust of India: Amidst a wave of terror assaults in Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday acknowledged the failure to avert the Peshawar carnage that killed over 100 folks and known as for “national unity” to deal with the menace.

Addressing an apex committee assembly on the Governor House on the mosque assault and the general rising terrorism scenario in Pakistan, Sharif additionally expressed frustration on the criticism levelled towards the federal authorities from opposition events within the wake of a sequence of terror assaults.

“There is a need for unity across the political spectrum. This act of terrorism managed to breach the security check post and reach the mosque. We should not feel hesitant in admitting the facts,” Sharif mentioned on the assembly which was boycotted by Imran Khan, former prime minister and chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf occasion.

Criticising Khan for refusing to attend the apex committee assembly, Sharif mentioned “you [Imran Khan] are not ready to join hands to improve the destiny of the country”.

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In the Peshawar mosque assault on Monday, a Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up in the course of the afternoon prayers, killing 101 folks and injuring greater than 200 others.

The police on Thursday mentioned that the bomber disguised himself in a police uniform to sneak into the high-security zone and was driving a bike with a helmet and masks on.

Pakistan has been hit by a wave of terrorism, largely within the nation’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, but in addition in Balochistan and the Punjab city of Mianwali, which borders the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Expressing sympathies with the households of the deceased within the mosque assault, Sharif mentioned that it was being requested how terrorism — which had been eradicated a number of years in the past — let this occur.

“In the wake of this incident, undue criticism was seen on social media. This is actually condemnable. The prevalence of the incident as a consequence of safety lapses shall be probed. But saying this was a drone assault and related associated accusations have been uncalled for on this tragic time,” Sharif said.

During the meeting, Sharif confessed to the presence of terrorists in Pakistan by saying that militants roam around, but have no safe area to hide.

“According to my data, terrorists haven’t occupied any space. They would not have an inch of their management. They roam about right here and there. But there is no such thing as a place of their possession,” he said.

The Friday meeting was attended by several senior functionaries of the Pak government, including Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, chief ministers of four provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan, federal ministers and national political leaders.

Read | We sowed seeds of terrorism, worshippers not killed even in India: Pak minister on Peshawar blast

Sharif said that the entire Pakistani nation was thinking about how the menace would be tackled in future.

“What measures will be taken to stop this terror wave? It is the need of the hour that provinces and the Centre along with the leaderships of political parties take ownership and shun their differences, be they political or related to any religious reasons. We should unite and tackle this,” he said.

Sharif questioned who allowed the militants to return to the country after they were expelled during to various military operations.

“But who brought them [Taliban] here? This is the question that the nation is looking for an answer to,” he said.

Calling it a tough time for the country, Sharif, who is also facing a difficult time managing the country’s debt-ridden economy, vowed the country would “collectively” overcome this challenge.

“All resources will be mobilised. This meeting reaffirms our aim to sit together until this menace is eradicated,” he said.

The prime minister further emphasised that the government will not rest until terrorism is eradicated and his government will try to control terrorism despite the many challenges facing the country.

During the meeting, Sharif announced that he will call a meeting of the All Parties Conference (APC) on February 7 to discuss militancy and chalk out a policy to counter it.

“I requested all of them [political leaders] regardless of variations — if there are any. If we don’t act now, historical past won’t forgive us,” he mentioned.

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Published On:

Feb 3, 2023