Last Update: February 03, 2023, 19:32 IST
Pakistan’s PM Shehbaz Sharif has urged the IMF to stop the ‘harsh conditions’ on the loan given to Pakistan. (Reuters file photo)
Sharif also expressed dismay over the criticism leveled against the federal government by opposition parties in the wake of a series of terrorist attacks.
Amid a wave of terror attacks in Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday acknowledged the failure to prevent the Peshawar massacre that killed over 100 people and called for ‘national unity’ to deal with the menace.
Addressing an apex committee meeting at the Governor’s House here on the mosque attack and the overall evolving situation of terrorism in Pakistan, Sharif also expressed dismay over the criticism leveled against the federal government from opposition parties in the wake of a series of terrorist attacks.
“There is a need for unity across the political spectrum. This act of terrorism managed to breach the security check post and reach the mosque. We should not hesitate to accept the facts,” Dawn newspaper quoted Sharif as saying.
A Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up during afternoon prayers at a Peshawar mosque on Monday, killing 101 people and injuring more than 200.
Police said on Thursday that the assailant wore a police uniform to enter the high-security area and was riding a motorcycle with a helmet and mask.
Pakistan has been hit by a wave of terrorism, mostly in the country’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, but also in Balochistan and the Punjab city of Mianwali, which borders the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Expressing condolences to the families of those killed in the mosque attack, Sharif said it was being asked how terrorism, which ended a few years ago, was allowed to happen.
“In the wake of this incident, undue criticism was seen on social media. This is certainly condemnable. Whether the incident occurred due to a security lapse will be investigated. But to say it was a drone strike and similar allegations were unnecessary at this sad time,” he was quoted as saying in the report.
Friday’s meeting was attended by several senior officials of the Pak government, including army chief General Asim Munir, chief ministers of four provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan, federal ministers and national political leaders.
Sharif said that the entire Pakistani nation is thinking about how to deal with this menace in future.
“What measures will be taken to stop this terror wave? It is the need of the hour that the leadership of the political parties as well as the provinces and the Center take ownership and sort out their differences, be it political or related to any religious reasons. We must unite and tackle this.
Describing these as difficult times for the country, Sharif, who is also facing a tough time managing the country’s debt-ridden economy, vowed that the country would “collectively” overcome this challenge.
“All resources will be mobilised. This meeting reaffirms our purpose of sitting together till this menace is over.
According to another report in The Express Tribune newspaper, the Prime Minister emphasized that the government will not rest until terrorism is eradicated and that his government is trying to control terrorism despite the many challenges facing the country. Will do
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)