QUETTA: While chairing an All Parties Conference (APC) in Quetta on Tuesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that enemies of Pakistan want to divide the nation.

"There are some who wish to make us fight amongst ourselves," said the premier.

PM Nawaz said that he was happy that all parties had agreed on the China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.

"I want to congratulate the Pakistani leadership for owning it."

PM Nawaz also heaped praise on the Pakistani leadership for moving towards mature politics.

"We made decisions about the National Action Plan (NAP) and military courts during which the country's leadership stood together. What bigger example than this of national unity?"

NAP — the 21-point counter-terrorism strategy — was put in place through a strong political consensus after the Dec 16 Peshawar school tragedy.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chairing a meeting on law and order situation in Balochistan at Governor House. — APP

PM orders immediate arrest of Mastung perpetrators

Earlier, while presiding over a high-level meeting on the law and order situation in Balochistan, PM Nawaz directed for the immediate arrest of the perpetrators of the Mastung incident.

He said that his government is committed to eradicating the menace of terrorism and extremism from the country.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addresses high-level meeting on law and order situation in Balochistan. ─ DawnNews screengrab

"The Mastung incident is shocking," the premier told the briefing with regards to the law and order situation at Governor House.

He stated that Operation Zarb-i-Azb was launched against terrorists to ensure durable peace in the country.

He further said that, “Enemies of Pakistan are hatching conspiracies to weaken our motherland since they cannot tolerate development and prosperity in the country. We are determined to wipe out terrorism.”

During the meeting held in the provincial capital city, Balochistan Chief Secretary Saifullah Chattha briefed the meeting on the law and order situation in the province in general and the Mastung incident in particular. Moreover, fateha was also offered for the departed souls.

Balochistan Governor Mohammad Khan Achakzai, Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, State Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Mir Jam Kamal and Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch, Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Nasir Khan Janjua, Inspector General Frontier Corps Maj Gen Sher Afgan, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti and other high level officials are among those attending the meeting.

An All Parties Conference (APC), which will take place at the Governor House, was also convened by the Balochistan CM to evolve a strategy after the Mastung incident.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Raheel Sharif is also expected to attend the APC.

Besides those parties which have representation in the Balochistan Assembly, invitations were also sent to all parties which have no representation in assemblies.

At least 20 people were killed and several injured Friday night when unknown militants opened fire at kidnapped passengers in Mastung area of Balochistan. Family members of the victims of the Mastung carnage had demanded convening of the conference during a sit-in they held in front of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

Convoy of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrives at Governor House in Quetta. — DawnNews screengrab

Earlier on his arrival at Quetta Airport for a day-long visit of the provincial capital city, the premier was welcomed by Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and his cabinet ministers.

Read: Militants kill 20 abducted passengers in Balochistan's Mastung