PAK PM ADMITS FAILURE TO AVERT MOSQUE CARNAGE

PESHAWAR: Amidst a wave of terror attacks in Pakistan, Pakista Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday acknowledged the failure to avert the Peshawar carnage that killed over 100 people and called for “national unity” to tackle the menace.

Addressing an apex committee meeting at the Governor House here on the mosque attack and the overall emerging terrorism situation in Pakistan, Sharif also expressed frustration at the criticism levelled against the federal government from opposition parties in the wake of a series of terror attacks.

“There is a need for unity across the political spectrum. This act of terrorism managed to breach the security check post and reach the mosque. We should not feel hesitant in admitting the facts,” Sharif said at the meeting which was boycotted by Imran Khan, former prime minister and chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party.

In the Peshawar mosque attack on Monday, a Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up during the afternoon prayers, killing 101 people and injuring more than 200 others.

The police on Thursday said that the bomber disguised himself in a police uniform to sneak into the high-security zone and was riding a motorcycle with a helmet and mask on.

Expressing sympathies with the families of the deceased in the mosque attack, Sharif said that it was being asked how terrorism — which had been eradicated a few years ago — let this happen.

“In the wake of this incident, undue criticism was seen on social media. This is certainly condemnable. The occurrence of the incident due to security lapses will be probed. But saying this was a drone attack and similar related accusations were uncalled for in this tragic time,” Sharif said.