PM Shahbaz Sharif Asserts No Tolerance for Defaming Patriots

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made it clear that there will be no tolerance for any defamation against those who lay down their lives for the nation. Speaking during his visit to Quetta, the Prime Minister expressed the nation’s grief over the terrorist attack in Bolan, where militants hijacked a train with over 400 passengers on board, and ruthlessly murdered innocent Pakistanis.

In his address, PM Shehbaz Sharif condemned the terrorists for showing no regard for the sanctity of Ramadan, or the lives of women, children, and the elderly. He described the horrific incident where the militants mercilessly pulled passengers off the train, made them sit in the open fields, and killed them without remorse. He stated that this kind of brutal act was unprecedented in Pakistan’s history, as the victims were just ordinary people, traveling to celebrate Eid with their families.

The Prime Minister commended the strategic response of the Pakistani military forces, particularly under the leadership of General Asim Munir, the Corps Commander of Quetta, and other agencies such as ISI, MI, and the Zarrar Company, which is specialized in eliminating such threats. As a result of the operation, 339 Pakistanis were freed, and 33 terrorists were killed.

He added that Pakistan cannot afford such incidents again and called on all political leaders and provincial governments to come together to tackle the issue of terrorism. He stressed that until Balochistan’s development and security are on par with the other provinces, peace and prosperity in Pakistan would remain incomplete.

PM Shehbaz Sharif also reflected on the previous achievements in fighting terrorism, highlighting how in 2018, Pakistan succeeded in eliminating terrorism at great cost, with over 80,000 lives lost and $30 billion in economic damages. He credited the sacrifices made by the Pakistani military and the civilian population during the tenure of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for establishing peace in the country.

He criticized those who had sympathized with the Taliban and allowed thousands of terrorists to be released, thus contributing to the resurgence of terrorism in Pakistan. He emphasized that to combat terrorism effectively, there must be unanimous agreement among the political leadership of the country.

PM Shehbaz Sharif concluded by urging the nation to unite against terrorism, saying that the biggest challenge is the lack of unity in tackling this menace. He called for a meeting with political leadership to devise a collective strategy to protect Pakistan from such threats. He also condemned the propaganda against the Pakistan Army, stating that no one should be allowed to defame the armed forces, who are tirelessly working to safeguard the nation’s borders.