The beasts involved in Peshawar tragedy deserve maximum punishment: Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that every Pakistani is grieved at the worst incident of terrorism in Peshawar and the beasts involved in the tragedy deserve maximum punishment. He said that time has come to purge the country of terrorists and their facilitators. He said that there is a need for unity and harmony at this critical hour and civil and military leadership as well as the whole nation has become united to eradicate terrorism from the country.

He was presiding over a meeting of cabinet committee on law and order here today. Overall law and order situation in the province and measures for ensuring foolproof security arrangements in the educational institutions were considered on the occasion.

The meeting also prayed for the innocent children and their teachers who were martyred in Peshawar tragedy. Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that the incident of terrorism that took place in Peshawar is the worst of its kind in the world and targeting of innocent children should be strongly condemned. He said that the whole nation is shocked at this tragedy. He said that the savages who killed innocent children are enemies of 18 crore people of Pakistan and deserve maximum punishment.

The Chief Minister said that the whole nation will have to make collective efforts for the eradication of terrorism and the Peshawar tragedy has created national unity besides consensus that terrorists and their patrons should be wiped out from the country and be made an example. He said that there is a need for adopting a collective approach for eliminating terrorists and their facilitators for transforming Pakistan in accordance with the ideals of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal and it is a matter of satisfaction that political and military leadership as well as the whole nation has become united against terrorism. He said that it is a war for survival of Pakistan and to ensure a safe and peaceful future for the coming generations. He said that victory in this war is essential and it is the only option.

Shahbaz Sharif further said that elimination of terrorists of every kind is the need of the hour for rooting out this menace and it has been decided that indiscriminate action will be taken against terrorists without any consideration of good and bad terrorists. He said that it is a big challenge but government, political and religious parties, civil society, armed forces and all segments of the society are determined to meet this challenge at any cost.

The Chief Minister said that resources will continue to be provided for the protection of life and property of citizens and complete implementation of all bold decisions in letter and spirit will have to be ensured. He directed that foolproof security arrangements be made at educational institutions in the whole province and an effective monitoring system should be devised for this purpose. He said that all concerned departments should perform their duties with mutual coordination and a watchful eye be kept on miscreants. He said that existing situation demands emergent measures and the concerned departments should perform their responsibilities in an efficient manner as there is no room for negligence or laxity.

Shahbaz Sharif directed that security measures at all important places should be further improved and a comprehensive strategy be evolved with regard to effective communication system. He further directed that implementation of security plan devised for educational institutions should be ensured at any cost.

Secretary Home and Inspector General Police Punjab gave a briefing on law and order situation. Provincial Ministers Col. (R) Shuja Khanzada, Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Bilal Yasin, Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Member National Assembly Hamza Shahbaz, Advisor on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique, Members Provincial Assembly Rana Sanaullah, Zaeem Hussain Qadri, Special Assistant Rana Maqbool, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, Secretaries of Home, Health, Schools Education, Higher Education, Information departments, Commissioner Lahore division and concerned authorities were present on the occasion.