Operation Zarb-i-Azb requires national unity: PM Nawaz

E-Paper | March 15, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Under the supervision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) met on Thursday to discuss the ongoing military operation 'Zarb-i-Azb' and the Lahore Model Town episode.

The prime minister said that operation 'Zarb-i-Azb' requires national unity and added, "A peaceful environment in the country would benefit the soldiers fighting in the North Waziristan tribal area."

He expressed confidence that militants would lose this war and added that the internally displaced persons from North Waziristan would be provided with every facility in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The meeting was attended by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Minister SAFRON Lt. Gen (R) Abdul Qadir Baloch.

Meanwhile the Punjab chief minister’s briefing on the Lahore Model Town tragedy also came under discussion. The chief minister instructed the attendees not to compromise on justice.

During the meeting, it was expected that the names of those responsible for carrying out orders to open fire at the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) supporters would be disclosed, but no such details emerged.

However, the PML-N leadership collectively condemned the episode that resulted in the death of PAT supporters.

Chief Minister Shahbaz said the provincial government would investigate the incident and those responsible for it would be brought to justice.

Operation Zarb-i-Azb: Interactive map

Latest: Around 30,000 soldiers involved in operation - over 200 insurgents killed.

Interactive map produced by: Sana Malik | Mahnoor Bari | Gulzar Nayani

Data gathered from ISPR and Dawn

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NHM

Jun 19, 2014 03:02pm

National unity, lets start with you first.......ok, please go and consult Musharaff

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Aamir

Jun 19, 2014 03:27pm

Stop playing these games ...

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Bilal

Jun 19, 2014 03:31pm

We standby you and Pakistan Armed Forces. In sha Allah Pakistan will WIN.

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Amin Ansari

Jun 19, 2014 04:06pm

CM Shahbaz Sharif it happened under your watch. Hope you know that. When would our leaders learn to start taking responsibility?

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Jun 19, 2014 04:10pm

Nawaz you have really Nawazed Pakistan, The nation is always united in war against any one but our Nation is not getting united on internal affairs, Can you please tell me how can I release my car from the port without duties and taxes because as PM you get everything and we Poor getting nothing. This is not Unity from you,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and so on there are so many Coma's can be written without Full Stop in the goodwill of DemoCRAZY. I wish our beloved soldiers list does not increase in dying because you are travelling everywhere without any tensions and in future after this war the citizens of Pakistan going to get gifts in shape of Bomb blasts. Long Live PAK ARMY

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Sher

Jun 19, 2014 05:09pm

It was your job Mr. PM to call a meeting of all heads of the Political Partys, I mean all, at lunch in your office, doesn't matter, you can pay this expenditure from tax payers money, but at least you must have contacted, consulted to all before start of this operation, WE ARE NOT against this operation, we all citizens are in favour of this. Now after 2 weeks, you are asking unity, unity from whom?? Its common sense, consult before you hit, not after, that damage about your ability has already been done, I don't know how you will recover from this??

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Mohammad Akhtar

Jun 19, 2014 05:41pm

Mr. Sharif is right, please stand together in the time of war and stop dividing the nation, like qadri is doing, Stop and Unite, you real enemies are terrorist go get them.

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Mohd

Jun 19, 2014 05:45pm

You are asking for nation to be united and personally taking foreign trips. Show either you don't care what is going on in the country or you have no say and Army is doing this mission on its own. Maybe you were just informed about it. To go after the militants is a very courageous decision and you are lacking decision making ability to go after them. The nation should be thankful to army for standing up in time if need.

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Khalid

Jun 19, 2014 05:49pm

Doesn't look nice this statement coming form you. You are the only politician in Pakistan who believes in dividing the people of Pakistan. Zarb-i-Azb doesn't require us to be united. Pakistan needs us to be united. It is for the very existence of Pakistan, that has been in question ever since you took power. As for unity, isn't it true that Rana Sanaullah, not very long ago said to the Talibans to go and attack other provinces?. You have no right to talk about unity Sir.

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Salim A

Jun 19, 2014 05:56pm

The Sharif brothers have their ties with Saudis who finance all the Sunni terrorists throughout the Muslim world terrorizing all sects and gender regardless of age. They better wake up and get rid of this menace once and for all if they want to see Pakistan stay in one piece. This whole mess of Muslim on Muslim (Sunnis -Shia)terrorism if not contained now, will turn Pakistan into another Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya or Egypt. Iran and Saudi Arabian rulers are playing a fatal game in the Muslim world.

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PakistanRocks

Jun 19, 2014 06:20pm

The day nation will become united you won't be in power in anymore. Let the nation be divided it is good for you and other lots.

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Israr khan Ismailzai

Jun 19, 2014 06:47pm

It is not a call for " unity , its more like a call not to criticize the govt on that Lahore issue. He must be thinking that all Pakistanis r stupid. What an incompotant man.

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Qamar

Jun 19, 2014 07:08pm

Yeah right. National unity by brutal killings of PAT workers and using police against your opponents. I wonder which planet this PM is living on!!!

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Nazir

Jun 19, 2014 07:45pm

He thinks that entire nation is stupid. He is trying to hide brutality that he and his ministers carried out in Model Town. He was neither in favor of operation. Hats off to Pak Army who took the ownership.

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daniel shiger

Jun 19, 2014 08:14pm

Mr Prime Minister, people will always stand by you if you do the right things. Even in future, if you are not more a Prime Minister, people will remember your good deeds. I know the situation in Pakistan is difficult. But this is the only chance you have, either to secure furture leadership or to loose once for all. Only in hard times can be tested your true leadership. No one is perfect. You are not a super human being. But keep doing the right things and take bold decisions. People in your country dont have a direction, and if you keep this operation and bring peace to the people, you can lead them for ever. Pakistan needs investment, this can only be possible with security and peace. And you also need to provide a very speedy Justice. And this Justice should not be available only for the elite but for all, including minorities. And you can prove this by hanging Qadri for killing an innocent man Salman Taseer. Lets see your move in this direction. Otherwise making Qadri a hero and killing other terrorists would be the most stupid thing to do. You had Taliban in the past and later on you guys started naming them good taliban and bad taliban. If you dont hang Qadri, you will have good terrorists and bad terrorists in Pakistan.

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Syed Ahmed

Jun 19, 2014 09:01pm

@Aamir: You and NHM has hit the nail on its head.

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Khalid

Jun 19, 2014 09:36pm

@daniel shiger You do make a lot of sense. Well done. Qadri must be hanged for killing Salman Taseer.

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Scorpion

Jun 20, 2014 02:16am

National Unity ....are you serious? Mr. Prime Minister...in your own home town (lahore) you guys can not show unity let alone at national level! Resign and that will bring national Unity !

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Mirza

Jun 20, 2014 06:35am

Nawaz Shareef sahib, you are the elcted leader of this nation. You should make sure that everybody is on board. But you are doing the opposite, your brother didn't do anything while the police stormed Qadri;s residence. You did not consult anybody before startone houing the war?. you could have called them at one hours notice?. you culd have called the KP chief Minister. I can go on and on but it is useless. You do not have a mind .

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