The federal government again put off its all parties conference (APC) scheduled for February 9, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will pay a solidarity visit to Turkey.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister for Information and Broadcasting announced the change to the APC schedule for the second time in two days
An earthquake of a 7.8-magnitude hit southern parts of Turkey and neighbouring Syria on Monday, killing over 4,800 people and injuring many.
APC to be held on Februray 9 now
Earlier, Aurangzeb has announced that APC has been rescheduled to February 9. Earlier, it was set to take place tomorrow (February 7).
After last week’s deadly bombing in a Peshawar mosque, PM Shehbaz Sharif urged all political parties to come together to tackle terrorism and extended an invitation to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan to attend the moot.
‘Unite!’: PM Shehbaz wants everyone to come together against terrorism
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for national unity against terrorism “or else history will not forgive us”, as he addressed an Apex Committee meeting in Peshawar.
The moot was attended by the Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, Chief Ministers of all the provinces and other senior officials.
“On Monday, a ghastly suicide attack martyred over 100 people and we are here to show solidarity with the families of those affected by the attack,” said the Premier. He added that the attack was “very unfortunate” but also noted that the attacker reached the mosque after passing through the check post in Police Lines.
“Over 80 people who were praying at the mosque were subjected to martyrdom barbarically,” he said. “We are here to express sympathies with their families and this is the purpose of the meeting,” he said.
Pointing out that the terrorist managed to breach a security check post and reach the mosque, Shehbaz Sharif said that the government should not feel hesitant in admitting the facts.
“After APS, this was the most distributing incident that has taken place in the city. The nation is asking that after the elimination of terrorism a few years ago, how come this incident took place in Peshawar,” stated the Prime Minister.
“What measures will be taken to stop this terror wave? It is the need of the hour that provinces and the Centre, along with the leadership of political parties, take ownership and shun their differences, be they political or related to any religious reasons. We should unite and tackle this.”
Condemning the “baseless” allegations levelled after the attack on social media and other platforms, Shehbaz Sharif promised that the security lapse will be in investigated, “but to say that it was a drone attack or something else is very inappropriate.”
The prime minister said in the past years, operations Zarb-i-Azb and Raddul Fasaad “broke the back of terrorism” and sacrifices were rendered in its wake. “Our friends and foes give testimony to this,” he added.
“Eradicating terrorism which had spread across four provinces was not easy. Many people lost their lives confronting terror. Our police and armed forces gave huge sacrifices. Our citizens were on the frontline.”
He said history would never forget the martyrs and their sacrifices. “And such sacrifices cannot be forgotten.”
The Premier said that Pakistan was carved out of India to become a leading nation, adding that if they do not act against terrorism now, history will not forgive them.
“You [PTI] were ready to resettle who were shedding blood but not ready to shake hands for the sake of the nation. The double standard will not work now,” said PM Shehbaz.
He said that he had extended an invitation to his predecessor Imran Khan.
“I have also invited the leader of a political party who was not willing to shake hands with me. We now have to rise above personal likes and dislikes,” said the premier.
Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) minister Shaukat Yousufzai said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had received the invitation for the meeting, however, they will be skipping the huddle.
“We cannot sit with those who are taking vengeful acts against us,” said Yousufzai.
