LAHORE – Terrorism will have to be rooted-out in the national interest, as anti-nation forces are bent upon destroying peace and law and order and there is a need for unity to foil their nefarious designs, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Thursday.
He was chairing a meeting to review various aspects of the Urdu Bazaar bomb blast and pace of investigation into the matter. Shahbaz said that nothing could be more important than maintenance of peace in the existing circumstances and every human life is precious to him and he is ready to provide all available resources for protection of life and property of people.
The CM said that besides human resource, modern technology is also essential for countering the menace of terrorism and short, medium and long-term strategies be evolved and presented to him within the next 10 days. Shahbaz said that courage and efficiency of policemen for foiling designs of terrorists at the Urdu Bazar Chowk is high commendable and policemen had sacrificed their lives but saved people from a big disaster.
He said that enemies of the nation want to destabilise the country and there is a need to foil their nefarious designs at all costs. For this purpose, the CM said, besides acquiring latest technology and equipment, all measures and decisions taken during the last two and a half years for maintenance of peace be reviewed. He said that an effective strategy be evolved for further improving security arrangements and their effective implementation be ensured.
Shahbaz directed officials to set-up a committee headed by his Senior Advisor Zulfiqar Khosa to review security arrangements. Earlier, the Punjab Police inspector general and the Lahore capital city police officer (CCPO) briefed participants of the meeting of various aspects and pace of investigation into the bomb blast. They informed that in an exemplary display of courage and bravery, policemen did not leave any duty point after the blast.
The meeting’s participants also gave their proposals for maintenance of law and order and eradication of terrorism.
