ISLAMABAD: Con­dem­n­ing Sunday’s attack in Attock in which Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada was killed, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has reaffirmed his government’s determination to pursue the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism with full force.

He called for adopting a pre-emptive strategy to counter terrorists’ plans and asked law-enforcement agencies not to lower their guards till the elimination of last terrorist.

According to an official statement issued by the Prime Minister House, Mr Sharif also stressed the need for changing tactics and going for a preventive operational methodology. He said terrorists would be chased to their last hideout and eliminated with national resolve and unity.

Also read: Colonel (retd) Shuja Khanzada​: Military man and politician

On the other hand, Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif directed intelligence agencies to trace perpetrators of the attack on the Punjab home minister.

Army chief directs agencies to trace perpetrators of attack on Khanzada

Condemning the terrorist attack, “the COAS directed intelligence agencies to help find perpetrators”, said ISPR Director General Maj Gen Asim Bajwa in a message on social media.

He quoted the army chief as saying that “such dastardly coward attempts cannot dent our national resolve to eliminate the menace”.

The army chief paid tribute to the deceased home minister, who had served in the army, for the services rendered by him. “Shuja Khanzada was a bold officer whose sacrifice for greater cause of cleansing Pakistan (of terrorism) will not go waste,” the army chief said.

The prime minister said the courage and valour of retired Col Shuja Khanzada was a message to masterminds of terrorist attacks that they were bound to be defeated.

President Mamnoon Hussain also paid glowing tribute to the unflinching resolve of Shuja Khanzada in the fight against terrorism and said his martyrdom would not go in vain.

The nation, he said in a message, would always remember the commendable services of the late minister for the cause of motherland.

Strongly condemning the terrorist attack, the president reiterated the nation’s commitment to eradicate the scourge of terrorism and extremism from the country.

The president also expressed condolences for other people who lost their lives and commiserated with their families. He directed the authorities to expedite rescue efforts and provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured.

PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari said no words were strong enough to condemn the brutal and cowardly attack on Shuja Khanzada.

“The attack today is a manifestation of the dying kicks of dying militants,” the former president said, adding that such cowardly attacks would not deter the nation from taking their fight against the militants to the finish.

Mr Zardari called for gearing up all resources and energies to apprehend the culprits and their masterminds and bring them to justice.

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah demanded an investigation into the attack to prevent such incidents in future.

Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid said Shuja Khanzada’s death was a national tragedy and he would be remembered for his valour and courage.

National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Speaker Murtaza Abbasi, Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani and Deputy Chairman Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri also condemned the attack and offered condolence over the death of the Punjab home minister and others.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play