Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan is a war for the survival and protection of Pakistan.
Addressing the internally displaced persons in Bannu IDP camps on Monday, he said the terrorists’ activities have paralysed life and there is no option but to wage a war to flush them out of Pakistan.
Sharif paid tributes to the officers and jawans of Pakistan Army who are “fighting valiantly to eliminate terrorists from NWA”.
Earlier, upon his arrival, the Punjab CM was briefed about the activities in IDP camps and the facilities provided to them. He also listened to the problems of the IDPs, saying that the whole nation stands by the IDPs and the government will provide all possible facilities to them in the camps and rehabilitate them after the operation.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashood and Pir Sabir Shah were also present at the occasion.
Addressing the IDPs, the KP governor said that Operation Zarb-e-Azb is aimed at bringing permanent peace in the country, including the tribal areas.
He said that the government had taken the decision to launch the operation after trying its utmost to resolve the issue of terrorism through dialogue.
The governor said that the federal government has allocated over Rs 8 billion for the facilitation of IDPs, while the World Food Programme has allocated Rs 2.3 billion for the displaced persons of NWA.
