The Youhanabad twin bombings have left the entire nation in mourning, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while talking to a representative delegation of the Christian community comprising bishops and fathers on Wednesday.
Minister for Home Colonel (r) Shuja Khanzada, Minster for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu, National Assembly Member Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, provincial assembly members Rana Sanaullah, Zaeem Qadri, Shahzad Munshi, Shakeel Awan, former MPA Rana Mubasher, chief secretary and authorities concerned were present during the meeting while the Christian community was represented by Bishop of Lahore Irfan Jamil, Cathedral Church Archbishop Sebastian F Shaw, Alexander John Malik, Fr Emmanuel Mani, Fr Moris Jalal, Fr Frances Gulzar, Pastor Irshad Ashiq Naz, Fr Nadeem Frances, Lahore Cathedral Dean Rev Shahid Meraj and other Christian leaders.
The participants of the meeting observed one minute’s silence for those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
Addressing the Christian delegation, Shahbaz said that Pakistan is in a state of war and facing the most difficult challenge of its history. He said that terrorists want to divide the nation through their despicable activities but all Pakistanis including Muslims, Christians and other minorities are united for the survival and stability of the country. He said that political, military and religious leadership are united in the war against terrorism and a unanimous National Action Plan has been evolved against terrorism which will help eliminate this menace from the country. He said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorists is continuing successfully and remarkable successes have been achieved. He said that more than 50,000 Pakistanis have lost their lives in the war against terrorism including officers and Jawans of the army, police, security institutions as well as politicians, traders, ulema and common citizens. He said that every segment of the society has been affected by negative activities of terrorists and they are targeting Pakistan and its people while mosques, Imambargahs, worship places of minorities, national institutions and even schools have not been spared. He said that young school going children have also been targeted by the brutal elements. He said that sacrifices of Pakistanis will not go to waste. He said that the whole nation will have to display unity and solidarity and foil every attempt made at dividing the nation.
The chief minister further said that under the National Action Plan, federal and provincial governments are moving ahead with complete harmony and effective measures have been taken speedily in Punjab with regard to its implementation. He said that amendments have been introduced in the laws and penalties have been made more stringent for wall-chalking, misuse of loudspeaker, provocative speeches and publication and distribution of objectionable literature.
He said that a fully trained Counter Terrorism Force has also been constituted which is now in the field. He said that maximum resources are being utilised in Punjab for coping with the scourge of terrorism. He said that additional topics are being included in the syllabus of educational institutions and seminaries for the elimination of terrorism and extremism through promotion of sentiments of tolerance and brotherhood in the society.
He further said that the menace of extremism, terrorism and sectarianism has not taken roots in the society overnight nor it will go away easily. He said that effective and persistent measures are required to tackle this problem. He said that the government is taking all possible steps for rooting out terrorism and extremism.
He expressed the hope that efforts to eradicate terrorism will succeed with the grace of Allah Almighty and Pakistan will emerge as an Islamic welfare state in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
He further said that every member of the society will have to play his role for the promotion of the sentiments of tolerance and restraint so that the menace of terrorism and extremism could be curbed. He said that no religion permits intolerance, violence and aggressive attitude and it is also the message of Jesus Christ to have patience and tolerance and to live peacefully. He also thanked the Christian community for its cooperation over the incident of Youhanabad. He said that cabinet committee on peace and his other colleagues played a positive role in proper handling of the issue for which he is grateful to them. He said that cabinet committee on law and order and administration should remain fully alert so that such incidents could be avoided in future. He said that the message of restraint, tolerance and justice should be given from the mosques, Imambargahs and other places of worship as it is the need of the hour for foiling the nefarious designs of the enemies. He said that every person living in Pakistan is Pakistani and a joint investigation team has been constituted with regard to the tragic incident which will fulfil the demands of justice and the guilty persons will be brought to book.