PESHAWAR: The government should implement decisions of the committee formed for devising a national action plan to eradicate the menace of terrorism otherwise restoration of sustainable peace will be impossible in the prevailing situation.

Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Punjab president Parvez Elahi said this while speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Friday. He was flanked by central leader of his party Ajmal Khan Wazir and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Intikhab Khan Chamkani.

“Had the government implemented the resolution adopted by all-party conference some four months ago the horrible incident of Army Public School, Peshawar, would not have taken place,” he said and added that decisions were taken but they were not implemented and thus the issues got complicated.

He said that the Peshawar incident had brought the entire nation on the same page and it was time that all the decisions should be practically implemented to wipe out terrorism and restore sustainable peace in this region otherwise the problems would increase with the passage of time.

The nation’s earnest demand, he said, was the restoration of sustainable peace in the country and it was the prime responsibility of the rulers to devise an effective strategy to hit hard the terrorists and ensure provision of security to people in the country. He said that the Peshawar attack was a despicable act, which should be condemned in the strongest possible terms. “Children are our hope and future, so the attack on Pakistan’s future is intolerable,” he said.

Parvez Elahi says govt should implement decisions of the newly-formed body

Referring to his chat with the injured students in hospitals, he said that he was impressed by them who despite experiencing the horrible incident had the courage to stand again and serve the nation.

The PML-Q leader stressed the need for eradication of terrorism, saying it would be in the best interest of the nation. He hoped that the newly-formed committee would come up to the expectations of the nation and ensure implementation of the decisions to get the required results.

Mr Elahi also commended the lead role of the Pakistan Army in the ongoing fight against terrorism, saying that the sacrifices of the security force would bear fruit and peace would be established in the country very soon.

Commenting on his meeting with Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, the PML-Q leader said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was also fully determined to stand up against terrorism. He said that united efforts would help uproot the menace.

Asked about differences among the political parties and resignations of PTI MNAs, he said: “Only unity can help solve our problems.” He said that the government should take advantage of the unity of the nation and seriously work for restoration of peace because this was the occasion that all the political parties were on the same page on the issue.

Published in Dawn December 20th , 2014