ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif reiterated on Wednesday that the entire nation would not permit such “barbaric incidents” to occur in the future while expressing his determination to bring those responsible for the arson and vandalism attacks on May 9 to justice.
The prime minister reaffirmed that it was his responsibility, in his capacity as the head of state, to ensure that all rioters and miscreants who had planned, assisted, and carried out attacks on various civilian and military installations throughout Pakistan faced legal consequences in accordance with the law and the Constitution. The “Azmat-e-Shuhada Convention,” held here to honor the nation’s martyrs, was the occasion for the prime minister’s speech. Many Shuhada families, governors, lawmakers, federal and provincial ministers, ambassadors, legislators, members of civil society, and ulema were present at the convention.
The prime minister said the incidents of May 9 were intolerable and unpardonable as the monuments and statues of Shuhada of armed forces and law enforcing agencies were vandalized.
“We will not let it happen again and will keep the National Flag high. We will not allow anyone to malign our armed forces,” he said, adding they would make all the perpetrators of May 9 incidents to face the law.
As the prime minister, he assured that the law would take its course, stressing that people behind the incidents would not be given any concession and would not be pardoned as ‘they had crossed the red line’.
He said those elements also hurt the sentiments of the families of Shuhada. Such a heart wrenching spectacle was never witnessed in the past.
Meanwhile, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday strongly condemned the May 9 attacks on state buildings and military installations in several cities of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.
Speaking at the “Takreem-e-Shuhada Convention” held here to pay tributes to the country’s martyrs, he reiterated firm commitment of the state to not tolerate such illegal and unconstitutional acts, a news release said.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was the chief guest at the event, which was attended among others by the martyr families, cabinet ministers, ex-servicemen, diplomats, civil society activists, and a large number of students.
Ahsan Iqbal paid tributes to the country’s martyrs during the ceremony and expressed solidarity with the families of the victims.
Emotional scenes were witnessed as victim families burst into tears while watching the pictures of their martyred loved ones and remembering them.
The minister personally went to their seats and shared the grief of the bereaved families.
He made it clear that no leniency would be shown towards those involved in the attacks on military installations on May 9.
