NAWABSHAH: Pakistan Peo­ples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday visited the Peoples Medical University Ho­s­­p­ital here on Sunday and inqui­red about the health of those woun­ded in Thursday’s suicide blast at Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in Sehwan.

Accompanied by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, he met many patients and inquired about their well-being. He directed the officials concerned to ensure proper medical care of the patients.

Speaking to reporters during the visit, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said that “the shrine is the heart of Sindh and Pakistan ... terrorists have attacked the heart of the province and country”. He said he and the masses were shocked and deeply grieved over the carnage.

The PPP chairman appreciated the people of Sindh and other provinces who came forward in large numbers to help the victims soon after the blast and those who donated their blood to save precious lives. “I am proud of these people and the doctors who worked round-the-clock to save lives,” he said.

Commenting on efforts to curb terrorism, Mr Bhutto-Zardari said that PPP’s position on the issue was very clear. “We have repeatedly been asking why the National Action plan is not being implemented in letter and spirit,” he said, adding that had the NAP been implemented across the country, terrorist activities would have been effectively checked.

“It’s not time to do politics or get emotional ... we should see why terrorist attacks are taking place in all provinces ... we should also find loopholes and mistakes,” he said.

The PPP chairman said he did not want to criticise the prime minister or interior minister over the situation because all of us would have to forge unity against terrorism to eliminate it from the country.

In reply to a question, he said he would not talk on why the prime minister did not announce compensation for the blast victims. “I must appreciate the prime minister for visiting Sehwan and Nawabshah,” he added.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari also avoided criticising Interior Minister Chaud­hry Nisar Ali Khan, saying that he would only tell the minister not to take criticism of policies personal. Instead of indulging in a blame game, he should fulfil his responsibilities, said the PPP chairman.

Shrines’ security being ensured: CM

HYDERABAD: Sindh Chief Mi­­n­i­ster Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that a plan to categorise shrines and ensure their security is being chalked out in consultation with auqaf department and other stakeholders. He said terrorists could not stop people from visiting shrines, which were citadels of peace.

Mr Shah was speaking to journalists during his visit to the shrine of great sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai on Sunday. He said that by visiting Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine after the attacks, devotees were giving a clear message that terrorists could not dampen their spirit.

He noted that those who had lost their lives in the carnage came from all communities and all provinces which showed that shrines were nucleus of peace and harmony for all human beings.

The chief minister said it was not time for criticism or point-scoring, and urged people to think above political considerations in order to combat the menace of terrorism.

He said that physical search of devotees at Qalandar’s shrine was being intentionally avoided but now this had become inevitable for which caretakers and custodians of shrines were being taken into confidence.

He said that security arrangements, including installation of walk-through gates and use of metal detectors and CCTV cameras, were being made at shrines.

Mr Shah told a questioner that the National Action Plan was being implemented in Sindh more than any other province and that was why operations were launched in Kandhkot-Kashmore, Jacoba­bad and Shikarpur districts.

Later, Murad Ali Shah met Bhitai’s shrine custodian Waqar Hussain Shah and told him that adequate security arrangements would be made at this and other shrines.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2017