Nawaz directs IB, ISI to make example of Hazara town bombing perpertrators

Published July 2, 2013
Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif talking to newspersons in Quetta.— Photo by Syed Ali Shah
Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif talking to newspersons in Quetta.— Photo by Syed Ali Shah

QUETTA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday rooting out terrorism and extremism was the first priority of the government and directed the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) to arrest the perpetrators of the recent bombing targetting the Hazara community to make it a test case.

The premier was on a visit to Quetta two days after a deadly suicide bombing in Hazara town which claimed 30 lives and was accompanied by Federal Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai, DG ISI Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam, the DG Intelligence Bureau (IB), and other top officials.

Speaking to mediapersons after chairing the high level meeting the prime minister said he had come to visit Quetta in order to review the law and order situation and that effective measures were needed to be adopted to restore traditional peace of Balochistan.

Nawaz also met with a tribal delegation of the ethnic Hazara community, which also included the relatives and heirs of the victims of the recent bombing in Quetta targeting the minority community.

He assured the provision of every possible security measures for the Hazara community.

The Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) chief said that every person involved in terrorist activities would be held accountable adding that he had instructed all institutions to deal with criminals with iron hands.

Nawaz also said that all decisions would be implemented upon and that the issue of targeted killings and missing persons in Balochistan would be accounted for.

Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned attack on the bus of a women's university and said if law enforcers worked with the same dedication then peace would be restored in Quetta.

"I have directed ISI and IB officers to arrest the culprits involved in recent bombings to make it as a test case", he said.

The Prime Minister said that terrorism was not acceptable, adding that it was the first priority of his government to wipe out terrorism and extremism.

He further said that the government would approach all political leaders to develop consensus and evolve a joint strategy to root out the curse of terrorism.

He directed all law enforcement agencies to cooperate with provincial government and to increase intelligence-sharing.

"Bringing peace in Quetta is not a big deal since it is a small city", he added.

Strict security measures were adopted by the provincial administration during the visit of premier, and Frontier Corps (FC) and police personnel were deployed on all roads leading to the Governor House.

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