Political and military leadership are one pag to eliminate terrorism: Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that officers and jawans of Pak Army, Counter Terrorism Force and Punjab Police are writing a new history of courage and valor and the whole nation is proud of its brave sons and daughters. He said that it is high time to eliminate terrorism and extremism and elimination of terrorism is the voice of the entire nation. He said that the terrorists and their facilitators have been overcome and the war will continue till their complete elimination. He vowed that every sacrifice will be made for this purpose.

He was addressing the function of passing-out parade of third batch comprising 332 corporals of Counter Terrorism Force at Elite Police Training School, Bedian Road, here today.

The Chief Minister inspected the parade of corporals and appreciated the standard of modern training and their professional expertise. He also gave away cash prizes, shields and honorary sword to the corporals showing outstanding performance during training.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the entire nation is proud of these brave corporals who have got modern training and have to play the vanguard role. He said that these corporals have not only to eliminate terrorism from the country but will also protect the life and property of the people. Congratulating the successful corporals, the Chief Minister said that high responsibility lies on them because they are entering in practical field as an organized professional force. He said that two batches of Counter Terrorism Force have already completed training and are taking part against terrorists and their facilitators. He said that the nation has high hopes of them.

Shahbaz Sharif said that Pak Army is achieving glorious successes against terrorists through operation Zarb-e-Azb and writing a new history of bravery. He said that Pak Army, Counter Terrorism Force and Punjab Police are eliminating terrorists and taking effective steps for eliminating terrorism. He said that political and military leadership are one page and steps are being taken under National Action Plan in this regard.

The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had given the vision of setting up of Counter Terrorism Force in 2013 and now this dream has been materialized. He said that if needed, the number of Counter Terrorism Force will be increased and with the passage of time, its capacity will also be built. He said that Counter Terrorism Force will be made best force of the world through modern training and professional skill.

Shahbaz Sharif congratulating Cabinet Committee on Law & Order, Provincial Minister Col.(R) Shuja Khanzada, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, Commandant Elite School, DIG Counter Terrorism Force and trainers of Pak Army said that the resources of billions of rupees have been provided for the protection of life and property of the people through which, besides providing modern weapons and training to the force, intelligence system is also being improved. He said that modern system of integrated command communication and control center is being introduced in Lahore and the scope of this system will also be expanded to other big cities.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab government has provided billions of rupees for this purpose. Similarly, billions of rupees are being spent on the reorganization of Dolphin Force, Intelligence School and Special Branch and Punjab government is providing these resources from its own budget as he believes that it is the need of the hour. He said that there will be no shortage of resources.

Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan was created after great sacrifices of our forefathers in 1947 and under the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam, got freedom from the slavery of colonial rule. He said that our elders had dreamed such a Pakistan where everyone have equal opportunity of progress, poor will get justice and there will be supremacy of merit, honesty and trust but after the lapse of 68 years, the soul of Quaid is asking this question that what happened with his motherland.

The Chief Minister said time has come that this game of 68 years will have to be eliminated. He said that poverty, injustice, inequality, cruelty, excesses, economic deprivation and corruption will have to be eliminated jointly. He said that we will have to adopt the principle of hard work, hard work and only hard work which was dreamed by Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. He said that we all will have to march forward through collective wisdom and joint efforts for the supremacy of justice.

Shahbaz Sharif said that 14^th August is approaching and we have to pledge for making Pakistan such an Islamic welfare state in the real sense by learning lesson from past mistakes where there will be supremacy of merit, justice, honesty, trust and equality. He said that we all have to take Pakistan forward by following these golden principles. He expressed his belief that if we become united, we can take Pakistan more forward and it can achieve its lost status in the comity of nations.

The Chief Minister said that Counter Terrorism Force will materialize the dream of Quaid’s Pakistan by ensuring protection of life and property of the people and eliminating the scourge of terrorism forever. He said that Counter Terrorism Force will be made a model not only for Pakistan but for the entire world. He said that Punjab government has provided most of resources to police and other departments from its own budget during last seven years. He said that if we make efforts and work hard, Allah Almighty helps us and resources are generated but, unfortunately, the menace of beggary has made Pakistan a begging country.

Shahbaz Sharif said that if we want to live with honour and dignity, we will have to rid of this menace and prove our metal through hard work. He said that if we take practical steps, all problems will be solved automatically.

The Chief Minister said let us pledge today that we will make Pakistan such a great country through collective efforts, joint wisdom and hard work as will be respected in the comity of nations. He said that we will have to work hard at every front for steering the country out of quagmire of problems.

Inspector General Police Mushtaq Ahmad Sukhera addressing the function said that Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is fully determined to eliminate terrorism.

He said that nine months’ training has been imparted to corporals of Counter Terrorism Force and expressed the hope that the war against terrorism will be won with the cooperation of the people.

Commandant Elite Police Training School Col. Saad Saleem also addressed the function. Special Assistant Rana Maqbool Ahmad, Members Assembly, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, Secretary Home, senior civil and police officials, intellectuals, parents and relatives of successful corporals attended the function.