— Shehbaz, COAS inquire after injured of Bajaur suicide attack during Peshawar visit
PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on Tuesday visited Peshawar, where the former urged the interim government of Afghan Taliban to undertake concrete measures towards denying its soil to be used for transnational terrorism.
During the visit, the prime minister was briefed on the overall security situation in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province with focus on the Bajaur suicide blast, status of investigations under process and counter terrorism efforts being undertaken to dismantle the terrorists’ network by disrupting the linkages between planners, executioners, and abettors, according to a statement issued by the PM Office.
At least 54 people were killed in a suicide blast at a Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) workers’ convention in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) Bajaur district on Sunday. The explosion occurred when more than 400 JUI-F members and supporters gathered under a tent in the town of Khar, near the border with Afghanistan.
The prime minister noted with concern the involvement of the Afghan citizens in the suicide blasts and liberty of action available to the elements hostile to Pakistan in planning and executing such cowardly attacks on innocent civilians from the sanctuaries across the border.
“Interim Afghan government should undertake concrete measures towards denying its soil to be used for transnational terrorism,” PM Shehbaz was quoted as saying.
The prime minister also appreciated the emergency efforts undertaken by the army in the evacuation of wounded personnel from Khar to Peshawar, saving many lives.
The prime minister and COAS also visited the wounded personnel under treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and inquired about their health. The prime minister instructed the concerned authorities to render best possible healthcare services to the wounded patients until their full recovery.
While interacting with the bereaved family members of the victims of Khar suicide blast, PM Shehbaz assured them that the entire nation stands with them in this hour of grief and shares the burden of their losses.
“These cowardly attacks by terrorists cannot weaken our resolve to eradicate the menace of terrorism from Pakistan. Security forces and law enforcement agencies with the support of the nation will ensure that those responsible for the dastardly attacks are brought to justice as soon as possible”, the premier remarked.
Earlier on arrival, the prime minister and the army chief were received by Commander Peshawar Corps.
