Punjab govt will recommend the highest civil award for Col. Shuja Khanzada: Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore:Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presided over a high level meeting here today which reviewed law and order and the situation after suicide attack on Provincial Home Minister Col. Retd Shuja Khanzada Shaheed in Attock.

The Chief Minister was presented initial report into the tragic incident. Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that that the martyrdom of Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada is a big loss and his sacrifice will not go waste. He warned that there will be an open war now and terrorists and their facilitators will be taken to task. He directed that law and order situation in the province should be further improved and foolproof security arrangement should be made. He said that all possible efforts should be made for the improvement of security measures.

The Chief Minister said that there is a need for further improving intelligence system and police and law enforcement agencies should perform their duties efficiently and in a professional manner. He said that terrorism and extremism will be rooted out for saving Pakistan and the elements responsible for suicide in Attock will be brought to justice. Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Ch. Sher Ali, Tanvir Aslam Malik, Hamza Shahbaz MNA, Chief Secretary, Special Assistant Rana Maqbool Ahmed, IG Police, Secretary Home and concerned officers attended the meeting while DCO and DPO Attock participated in the meeting through video link.

During the meeting a special condolence reference of provincial cabinet held here today which strongly condemned suicide blast in Attock and prayed for the departed souls of Provincial Minister for Home Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada Shaheed, DSP Shaukat Shah and others. The members of the cabinet committee expressed their sympathies with the bereaved families of Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada besides other martyrs and paid rich tributes to Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada for laying down his life in the war against terrorism. The meeting also expressed resolve to completely eliminate terrorism and extremism.

Addressing the cabinet meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada has embraced martyrdom like a brave soldier of the nation and his sacrifice will always be remembered. He said that Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada was a true and honest politician who rendered invaluable services for the elimination of terrorism from the province as well as encouraged the nation.

He said that Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada played a prominent role in the setting up of Counter-Terrorism force and Integrated Command, Communication and Control Center and also paid a number of visits to friendly countries. He said that the services of Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada for maintenance of law and order and elimination of terrorism from the province will always be remembered. He said that Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada was an important minister and a very hard working and honest politician and he will recommend federal government to give highest civil award to Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada Shaheed for his invaluable services.

The Chief Minister vowed that every effort will be made for the elimination of terrorists and their facilitators and the country will be made a haven of peace. He said that there is no room for terrorism and extremism in Pakistan. He said that terrorists and their facilitators will be wiped out and no effort will be spared for eradication of terrorism from Punjab as well as the whole country. He said that terrorists will be brought out of their hideouts and awarded deterrent punishment. He said that there is a need to resolve that every sacrifice will be made for safeguarding the country and he will personally lead the war against terrorism for the elimination of this menace at any cost.

Shahbaz Sharif said that we will have to deal with all challenges and difficulties with courage and unity and defeat terrorists. He said that the mission of Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada Shaheed will be furthered and terrorists will have to be eliminated.

The Chief Minister stressed upon members of the cabinet to be ready for elimination of terrorism as no compromise will be made in this regard. He said that the mission of Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada will be completed at any cost. He said that in order to eliminate the menace of terrorism, we will have to move forward with courage and determination and promote unity for this purpose. He said that Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada was a brave and courageous person like his name and he is a national hero.

The Chief Minister prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and strength to bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss. He said that elements playing with innocent lives are enemies of the country and the nation and will not be able to escape the law. He said that all institutions of the country are determined and united to root out terrorists.

The Chief Minister said that it is now or never and the terrorists targeted our innocent children on 16 December 2014 and the Punjab Home Minister on 16 August 2015. He said that terrorists will be defeated with the force of unity and a new history will be written and the country will be made a haven of peace. Provincial Ministers, Advisors, Special Assistants, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police and secretaries also paid rich tributes to the services of Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada and said that his martyrdom is a national loss, however, his mission will be furthered. The cabinet members also expressed their resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in the war against terrorists. Provincial Ministers, Advisors, Special Assistants, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, concerned secretaries and senior officers participated in the meeting.

Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Provincial Ministers, Advisors, Special Assistants, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, Chairman Planning and Development and Secretary Home became emotional while mentioning services of Col. Shuja Khanzada during a special condolence reference of Punjab Cabinet. Speaking with regard to Col. Shuja Khanzada, Shehbaz Sharif’s eyes became tearful. Shahbaz Sharif said that he will recommend to federal government for the highest civil award for Col. Shuja Khanzada due to his invaluable services.

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif presented a resolution in the special condolence reference of Provincial Cabinet here today regarding the martyrdom of Provincial Home Minister Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada and other persons in Attock.

The cabinet unanimously adopted the resolution and all the members expressed their full support. In the resolution it was stated that the meeting of Punjab cabinet expresses deep sense of sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of Provincial Minister Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada and other persons in the suicide attack and pray that may Allah Almighty rest the departed souls in eternal peace and grant courage and strength to the bereaved families to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.

The members of Punjab cabinet paid tributes to their Shaheed colleague on sacrificing his life in the war against terrorism. The resolution further stated that Col. Retd. Shuja Khanzada was an honest, hard working and courageous politician and he will always be remembered as a true and bold Pakistani. The Punjab cabinet makes it clear that the brutal elements playing with innocent lives cannot weaken the resolve of Punjab government and the people of the province through such activities.

The members of the Punjab cabinet renew their pledge that they will utilize all their energies for ridding the country of the menace of terrorism and will not hesitate from making any sacrifice for this cause.

Some verses of Surah Al-Imran of Holy Quran and its translation were recited in the beginning of special condolence reference of provincial cabinet presided over by Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for paying homage to Shaheed Provincial Home Minister Col Retd. Shuja Khanzada and other martyrs. The Chief Minister played verses and their translation on his (TAB) which is as under:

“No doubt, there was a sign for you in two groups that encountered among themselves. One gang fighting in the way of Allah and the other disbelievers that they understood them double of themselves in their eyesight; and Allah strengthens with His help whom He pleases. No doubt, in it there is teaching after seeing for the men of understanding.Adorned for men is the love of these lusts, women and children and the stored up heaps of gold and silver and branded horses and cattle and crops.

This is the capital of living world; and it is Allah with whom there is an excellent destination. Say you ‘shall I inform you of something better than that.’ For pious ones there are gardens with their Lord beneath which rivers flow therein shall they abide, and pure wives and Allah’s pleasure. And Allah sees His bondsmen. Those who say, ‘Our Lord we did accept faith, then forgive us our sins and save us from the torment of the hell. The steadfast and truthful and humble and those who spend in the way of Allah and those who seek forgiveness in the latter part of the night.

Allah bore witness that none is to be worshiped save He, and the angels and the men of learning (too) standing with justice; none is to be worshiped save He, the most Reverend, Wise”.

After these verses the Chief Minister said that the martyrdom of Col. (Retd.) Shuja Khanzada Shaheed is under these ordains of Holy Quran who has sacrificed his life for a great cause. He said that the great soldier of the nation has embraced martyrdom and his sacrifice will be remembered forever.

During the special condolence reference of Punjab cabinet, Provincial Ministers, Advisors, Special Assistants, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police and Secretaries paid rich tributes to the services of Col. (Retd.) Shuja Khanzada Shaheed and described his martyrdom as a national loss. They said that the mission of Shuja Khanzada will be furthered and they will not rest content till the elimination of terrorists. Provincial Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the martyrdom of Shuja Khanzada is a national loss. He said that we will work shoulder to shoulder with Chief Minister Punjab for eliminating terrorism and will make the future of coming generations safe.

Provincial Minister Rana Mashood Ahmed said that Col. Shuja Khanzada had always spoken truth and achieved this status through hardwork. Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman said that Col. Shuja Khanzada has sacrificed his life for a great cause and we are missing him badly. Malik Nadeem Kamran said that Col. Shuja Khanzada spent his life bravely and the guideline provided by Chief Minister for eliminating terrorism has encouraged us and given a strong message to terrorists that there is no room for them in the country. Khalil Tahir Sindhu said that we will follow the announcement by Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif to lead in war against terrorism.

Tanveer Aslam Malik said that we will follow the foot prints of Col. Shuja Khanzada and will not hesitate from any sacrifice. Bilal Yasin said that despite threat, Shehbaz Sharif went to Attock and attended Nimaz-e-Jinaza of Col. Shuja Khanzada. He said that we will come up to the expectations of Shehbaz Sharif. Zakia Shahnawaz said that Col. Shuja Khanzada was a straightforward politician and will remain alive in our hearts forever.

Muhammad Shafique said that Col. Shuja Khanzada was a brave person and done a lot of work for eliminating terrorism. Khawaja Salman Rafique said that we will sacrifice our lives under the leadership of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for eliminating terrorism. Ejaz Nabi said that Col. Shuja Khanzada was fighting against terrorists and we will root out this menace. Ata Maneka said that this is high time that the war against terrorism should be reached to a logical end. Rana Maqbool Ahmed said that Col. Shuja Khanzada was a great personality.

Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal said that the martyrdom of Col. Shuja Khanzada is an irreparable loss who has sacrificed his life for the country and his sacrifice will be remembered forever. Inspector General Police Punjab said that the commitment of Chief Minister against terrorism has encouraged us and Punjab Police will not hesitate from any sacrifice for a peaceful Pakistan. Senior Member Board of Revenue, Secretary Finance, Chairman Planning and Development, Secretary Home and Secretary to Chief Minister Punjab also threw light on the services of Col. Shuja Khanzada.