PM Shehbaz calls for unity in fight against terrorism

PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for unity in the fight against terrorism which has reared its ugly head once again in Pakistan.

The prime minister was chairing a meeting of the Apex Committee in Peshawar on Friday. The meeting was called in wake of the deadly suicide bombing at the Police Lines mosque in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa capital which left almost 101 martyred and a large number of people injured.

The meeting at Governor House discussed anti-terrorism measures and was attended by all stakeholders including police, rangers and senior officers of sensitive institutions.

According to the national news agency, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the federal government will extend maximum support in strengthening the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and police of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to help it fight terrorism in a more effective manner.

He said the province witnessed a fresh spate of terrorist incidents that needed capacity-building of its security departments.

Shehbaz Sharif vowed that a thorough investigation will be carried out and the culprits behind the terrorist incident will be brought to the book.

He expressed solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives in the terrorist incident and announced compensation money of Rs2 million for the dead and Rs500,000 for the injured on behalf of the federal government.

The prime minister said he has convened an All Parties Conference (APC) on February 7 to discuss ways to overcome the current national challenges, adding that he has also invited Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to attend the meeting.