Sharif renews resolve to fight terrorism

Karachi: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday renewed his resolve to fight terrorism and take the country into new phase of development and progress.

Addressing officers and technicians of Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Sharif said the PAF was a key element in counter-terrorism and appreciated the role of PAF airmen and airwomen in Zarb-e-Azb and other operations against terrorists.

The prime minister spoke at the PAF airshow at Sonmiani Range, 60m west of Karachi.

Appreciating its role, Sharif said the PAF is working in coordination with the Pakistani Army in some of the most challenging terrains in the modern days battlefields.

Sharif said that despite many internal and external threats Pakistan was steadily gaining strength and sailing through the difficult times.

“Insha Allah, Pakistan will soon emerge as a strong and prosperous nation in the region,” he said adding that the world was acknowledging the country’s efforts in fighting terrorism.

He further said that the world was appreciating Pakistan’s consistency in domestic and foreign policies and its national resolve to eliminate the menace of terrorism.

The prime minister also visited the parents of Marium Mukhtar, the first PAF lady pilot, who embraced martyrdom in an air crash last month.

Later, he arrived in Karachi to head a meeting to discuss security issues in the city. Army chief General Raheel Sharif, Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar and Interior Minister Chaudry Nisar Ali Khan attended the meeting with the Sindh provincial cabinet.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah told the meeting that the police had arrested the suspects of attacks on the military police (MP) and the Rangers. The two soldiers of the MP were shot dead in the volatile city in the past week.