First batch of Counter Terrorism Force pass out to uproot terrorism

Lahore: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that the war against terrorism is the war of survival of our coming generations. He said that this is the war of Pakistan and now Pakistan is facing a decisive moment.

He was addressing the passing out ceremony of first batch of Counter Terrorism Force set up by Punjab government at Elite Police Training School Bedian Road today.Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif,Corps Commander Lahore lieutenant General Naveed Zaman,DG Rangers Khan Tahir,Federal Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan,Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif,Acting Governor Punjab Rana Muhammad Iqbal and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that we have decided to return lost peace to the country and there was no room for terrorism and extremism in the motherland. He said it was our strong commitment that we would crush those killing our innocent children, people and the jawans of Pak Army. He said, no doubt, there will be difficulties and problems but our commitment is greater than the difficulties in this regard.

The Prime Minister expressed the belief that the country and the people will achieve success against enemies of peace and the Pakistani nation will win this war.He also announced reduction in petroleum prices and said that country’s economy is improving,we wanted to give more relief but could not make it possible due to unavoidable circumstances.

Nawaz Sharif said that brave army of the country is achieving excellent successes in operation Zarb-e-Azb and a new history is being written in the war against terrorism. He expressed the hope that Pakistan will win the war against terrorism and there will be a durable peace in the country. He said that the war will continued till elimination of last terrorist. He reiterated that the government will not rest content till giving a crushing defeat to the terrorists. He said there are many examples in the comity of nations that when the nation, political and military leadership became united against the challenge of terrorism, they won the war.

He said that now Pakistani nation, political and military leadership has united against terrorism and will achieve the success against the enemies of peace. He said that this cannot be achieved only through bullet but education, health, justice, elimination of poverty, unemployment and corruption are also essential for rooting out terrorism and the country will be made a Pakistan of Quaid-e-Azam and Allam Iqbal in the real sense. He said that the entire nation has decided and is ready to pay any price for eliminating terrorism.

While addressing the ceremony , Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif congratulated the corporals completing training said that he is especially thankful to Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif who has come here for encouraging daughters of the nation and jawans of Counter Terrorism Force.

The Chief Minister also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif on his arrival at Elite Police Training School. He said that trainers providing training to corporals also deserve appreciation as this important achievement was made due to their hard work.

The Chief Minister said that the ceremony of passing out of Counter Terrorism Force is not only an important day for Punjab but it is of great importance in the history of the country. He said that the brave jawans and daughters of the nation have displayed excellent performance in the passing out ceremony of Counter Terrorism Force constituted for coping with terrorism.

Shahbaz Sharif said this message has been conveyed to every nook and corner of the country that the brave sons of the motherland will face terrorists jointly with the nation everywhere and the country will be purged of terrorists forever. He said that the corporals have got professional training with sincerity and hard work and they will safeguard the country and the nation through their courageous role and make the country a haven of peace in the real sense.

The Chief Minister said that country is facing the challenge of terrorism and extremism and, unfortunately, terrorism has caused huge loss to the country and the national economy. He said that worst kind of terrorism incident was happened in the history of the world on December 16, 2014 at a school of Peshawar and terrorists killed the innocent children. He said that the entire nation from Peshawar to Karachi has united against terrorism due to this incident and an exemplary demonstration of unity and consensus is unprecedented in the history.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the entire nation has united against terrorism and this menace will be eliminated through strong commitment of the nation forever and Pakistan will be made an Islamic welfare state in the real sense. He said that Pakistan will be transformed into such a state, the dream of which had seen by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Allama Iqbal where justice prevails, equal opportunities available, health and educational facilities for all and there is prosperity and peace. He said that the Peshawar tragedy has shaken the entire nation and the souls of innocent children will not rest in eternal peace till we will take revenge of this cruelty from these beasts.

He said that the terrorists involved in the terrorism in the country are equipped with latest weapons and modern training. The Chief Minister said that setting up of a capable and active force meeting the modern demands was a need of the hour for coping with the menace of terrorism and in view of this requirement, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif presented a vision of preparing a special force for overcoming this serious problem in July 2013 and we are thankful to Almighty Allah Who bestowed us to give a practical shape to the vision of Prime Minister in a short period.

He said that Punjab is the first province where brave sons and daughters of Counter Terrorism Force are coming to the field for riding the country of scourge of terrorism. He said that the history will remember Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on setting up of this force for countering terrorism in accordance with his vision.

Shahbaz Sharif said that merit has been strictly observed while selecting the jawans for this important course of national importance like it has been observed in recruitments made in education, police and other sectors in the province. He said that Punjab government has made all recruitments from constable to ASI only on merit during the last six years whereas 80 thousand teachers have also been recruited on merit. He said that engineers, doctors, master degree holders and the youth having M.Phil degrees have been included in Counter Terrorism Force who have been provided best training and latest equipments. He said that these jawans are imbued with the spirit of safeguarding the country and these brave jawans will not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for the country.

He said it is high time that the nation should be united for eliminating terrorists forever for materializing the dream of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. The Chief Minister while thanking his political and administrative team said that they all have worked like a team for giving a practical shape to the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He thanked Army Chief Gen. Raheel Sharif and said that the Commander of Pak Army not only took keen interest in the training of Counter Terrorism Force but also extended full cooperation.

Corps Commander Lahore Lt. Gen. Naveed Zaman also extended complete assistance and spared no effort in providing training to the force, he added. Shahbaz Sharif said that other factors are also important in training programme of Counter Terrorism Force and he is also thankful to them. He said that an Apex Committee comprising political and military leadership has been formed for implementing national action plan against terrorism in the province and effective steps are being taken for this purpose.

He said that Punjab government, after a number of decades, has made stringent lows regarding checking of literature based on religious hatred, publication and distribution of objectionable books, checking of misuse of loudspeakers and ban on wall-chalking. He said that indiscriminate action is being taken against violators. He assured the nation that the political and military leadership will jointly eliminate terrorism.

The Chief Minister said that officers and jawans of Pak Army, police, citizens, children and people belonging to other sections of life have rendered numerous sacrifices in the war against terrorism and more than 50 thousand Pakistanis have lost their lives in this war which is unprecedented in the history. He said that the sacrifices in the war against terrorism reflect complete and strong determination of Pakistan which is a clear proof of this determination of Pakistan for the world.