ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday expressed concern over terrorist attacks on security forces days after the announcement of the general election date.

The party issued the statement hours after nine terrorists were killed as security forces foiled a terrorist attack on the Mianwali Training Air Base of Pakistan Air Force.

A day ago, 17 soldiers and five civilians were martyred in militant attacks in Gwadar, Dera Ismail Khan and Lakki Marwat.

The PTI insisted on devising an effective national strategy to rein in the attacks and avoid “more disastrous consequences”.

Expre­ssing “deep concern” over the “alarming upsurge in tragic incidents of terrorism”, the PTI lauded the army for thwarting the attack on the Mianwali Air Base.

The statement said the attacks in different parts of the country “were a cause of great concern” for the state. The security personnel deserved all the credit for foiling the terrorist attack in Mianwali, it added.

The PTI, however, raised questions over the new wave of terrorism ahead of the general elections scheduled for Feb 8, 2024.

The party made it clear that only a representative government of the people had the auth­o­rity and mandate to take policy decisions after the general elections in the country.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2023