Shahbaz Sharif chairs a conference on law & order and security arrangements

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that nations have to face difficult challenges in their life and only those nations succeed in meeting these challenges which face the situation with courage, determination and hard work. He said that Pakistan is also facing terrorism and extremism, however, due to the martyrdom of innocent children in Army Public School, Peshawar, the nation has become united in the war against terrorism and decided that terrorism will be rooted out from the country. He said that a new history will be written as the unity and harmony displayed currently is unprecedented in the history of Pakistan. He said that it is time to eradicate the menace of terrorism and purge the country of this scourge. He said that collective wisdom and joint strategy will be adopted while all out energies will be utilized for eliminating the brutal elements. The Chief Minister said that discrimination of good and bad Taliban has ended as all terrorists have caused damage to the country and given sorrow and grief to the nation. It is high time to bring these elements to their logic end, he added.

He was addressing a conference on law & order and security arrangements here today. Provincial Ministers Col. (R) Shuja Khanzada, Atta Manika, Bilal Yasin, Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Members National Assembly Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Afzal Khokhar, Member Provincial Assembly Rana Sanaullah, Special Assistants, Assembly Members, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Advocate General, Inspector General Police, Secretary Home, concerned secretaries, commissioners of all divisions, RPOs, DCOs, DPOs as well as senior officials were present.

The Chief Minister said that it is historic moment as he is addressing administrative and police officers of the whole province. He said that the only agenda of the conference is to rid Pakistan to menace of terrorism. He said that elimination of terrorism is the top priority of the government and all necessary resources will be provided for this purpose. He said that it is a critical juncture in war against terrorism. He said that due to the martyrdom of innocent children in Peshawar, the nation has become united and determined to root out terrorism from the country.

He said that political and military leadership has evolved a unanimous action plan to eliminate terrorist and the course of history will be changed through its implementation. He said that the brutality of terrorists in Army Public School Peshawar on December 16 shocked and grieved the whole nation, however, it has emerged as a strong and vibrant force to put an end to terrorism in the country. Shahbaz Sharif said that officers and jawans of armed forces, police officials and citizens have rendered supreme sacrifices in war against terrorism and the sacrifices made by the Pakistanis nation are unprecedented in the world history. He said that more than 50 thousand Pakistani have lost their lives in the war against terrorism.

Paying tributes to the sacrifices of the martyrs in the war against terrorism, the Chief Minister said that Pak Army is among the best trained organized and professional forces of the world. He said that national leadership and government institutions are on one page in the war against terrorism and the desired objective will have to be achieved. He said that it is time to learn from the past mistakes and move forward to achieve the goal of a peaceful Pakistan. He said that continuous efforts are needed to win the war against terrorism and effective measures will have to be adopted for this purpose. He said that political and military leadership are determined to root out the menace of terrorism and if this opportunity was lost, nothing will be left.

The Chief Minister said that peace is directly linked with education, health, justice and socio-economic measures. He said that a peaceful society will have to be created from the promotion of foreign investment as well as trade, social, industrial and economic activities. He said that it is time to show courage and commitment and to give a peaceful and safe future to the coming generations and to rid the country of oppressions, injustice, corruption, nepotism and other evils.

Shahbaz Sharif further said that it is unfortunate that while the elite have all facilities while the common man is deprived of basic amenities such as education, health and justice. He said that extremism and terrorism can be rooted out also with the provision of justice, elimination of corruption and socio-economic reforms and not only with bullet as terrorists benefit from the situation and play with the sentiments of innocent citizens. He said that corruption, nepotism and injustices will have to be eradicated while equitable distribution of resources will have to be ensured for eliminating terrorism. He said that police stations will have to be made source of redressing the grievances of the aggrieved.

Addressing police and administrative officers, the Chief Minister said that there is heavy responsibility on them and provide relief to the citizens and mobilize the masses in the war against terrorism. He said that every member of the society will have to play his role for rooting out the menace of terrorism as only then desire results will be achieved. He said that Turkey, Sri Lanka and many other countries have also faced problems of terrorism but have overcome this challenge through hard work and determination. He said that Pakistani nation will also eradicate the menace of terrorism with collective wisdom and efforts and the country will be made a haven of peace.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the role of police force is a vital importance in the war against terrorism. He said that there were already laws against wallchaking, provocative literature speeches and the misuse of loudspeakers, however, Punjab government has carried out legislation for giving strict punishment to the violators. He said that besides effective implementation of these laws, terrorism, extremism and secretarianism will have to be controlled. He said that police force should ensure strict implementation of laws and take action against the violators without discrimination.

The Chief Minister directed that special attention should be paid to the security arrangements in private and public educational institutions and the committees set up for this purpose at district level should monitor the security measures. He said that special seminars should be arranged in educational institutions on unity, peace and harmony. He said that police should have complete and immediate information about the persons staying at hotels, motels and inns. He said that there is also need to improve intelligence system. Shahbaz Sharif said that it is time to display commitment and sincerity to win the war against terrorism. He said that terrorists will have to be given a strong reply and every citizen of the country will have to come forward and play an active role in the war for the survival of the country. He said that stern action should be taken against miscreants as unity and harmony is essential for victory in war against terrorists. He said that is difficult task but not impossible, if honesty, hard work and eradication is shown. The Chief Minister said that he is standing with them in the war against terrorism and will fully support them for eradication of this menace from the country.

Provincial Minister for Home Col. (R) Shuja Khanzada while addressing the peace conference said that the spirit and determination shown at the times of natural calamities is needed to overcome the menace of terrorism. He said that victory is the only option in the war against terrorism as it is for the survival of the country. Provincial Minister for Auqaf Atta Manika said that the country is facing an extraordinary situation, however, the nation has awakened and war will be won at any cost.

Rana Sanaullah MPA said that the terrorists showed extreme brutality against innocent children in Army Public School, Peshawar. He said that the Pak Army is fighting against terrorists with courage and the whole nation is standing behind it. He said that victory is the only option in the war against terrorism.

Chief Secretary Punjab said that terrorism is a difficult challenge but will be overcome successfully. Inspector General Police said that government and the nation are determined to defeat terrorists and every sacrifice will be made for ensuring a safe future of the country. He said that national action plan will be fully implemented. He said that the war against terrorits will be fought with courage and commitment and they will be defeated at all cost.