Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said on Tuesday that the country is facing serious security issues and concerted efforts by the whole nation are needed to combat the menace of terrorism.
Responding to points raised by members in the National Assembly, he said the politicians should forge unity instead of point scoring.
The media should also play its due role, he said, adding that only one message should be disseminated that the nation is united against terrorists.
“We are in a war zone and only unity among our ranks can foil the nefarious designs of the country’s enemies,” he said, adding that it was the time to take bold decisions.
Nisar said the country’s security would be reviewed in consultation with the provincial governments, adding that a consensus strategy would have to be evolved to avoid the recurrence of terror incidents like the Karachi airport attack.
He said some channels had aired conflicting news regarding the airport attack.
“The media should only release news reports after confirming and verifying facts. There should be a code of ethics for live coverage,” he said.
The minister said that the terrorists had failed in their objective to target national assets, occupying the old terminal of the airport and making the passengers and staff hostage.
He said total 10 terrorists had attacked the airport, seven of them were killed by the security forces while the three committed suicide.
Paying tribute to the security forces, Nisar said that the NA acknowledged the sacrifices and bravery of the security personnel.
“Martyrs in the airport incident have made the countrymen proud,” he said.
He said that the Airport Security Force (ASF) exhibited exemplary gallantry as 11 ASF personnel were martyred.
He said that the terrorists tried to storm the old airport terminal in groups of five and they were engaged by three on-duty ASF personnel for 15 minutes.
In the meantime, reinforcements of Rangers, police and army completed the outer cordon of the airport, he said.
He said the exchange of fire with the heavily-armed terrorists continued for two hours, adding that the last terrorist was killed by the forces at 1:45 am.
He said the terrorists, who were wearing clothes similar to the uniform of ASF personnel, had earlier started their journey somewhere from Karachi, but they were not stopped by anyone.
The minister said that agencies had warned the Sindh government that the entry gates of Karachi’s old airport were vulnerable and posed a security risk but no measures were taken to make them secure.
Responding to a point raised by a Pakistan People’s Party member, Nisar refuted an attack at ASF Academy in Karachi on Tuesday.
He said concerted efforts were being made to provide security to pilgrims visiting Iran as air link with that country had already been restored.
