Quick dispensation of justice to help eliminate terrorism: PM

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday said the 21st Constitutional Amendment would lead to quick dispensation of justice and help the country eliminate the scourge of terrorism.

Addressing members of the Pakistani community here on the second day of his official visit to Bahrain, the prime minister said the military courts were being established to take to task all those elements involved in terrorist activities against the State of Pakistan and its innocent people, who fell vicitm to their nefarious designs.

He said the government was committed to bring peace to the country at all costs and vowed that the war will continue till the elimination of the last terrorist.

The Prime Minister appreciated the political parties who extended full support on the constitutional amendments to bring peace to the country and establishment of the courts.

He said quick dispensation of justice through the military courts would help the country progress and develop, without any fear or threat. He said the people in Pakistan were anxious and feared about their loved ones, ading that the government was determined to bring peace to Pakistan at all costs.

Referring to the threat from terrorism to the country, he said that the govenment believed in dialogue and offered those who were willing to lay down their arms, for talks. However regretted that in response an attack was launched on the Karachi airport. He said there was an assessment that 50,000 people have lost lives while the national economy has suffered losses in billions of dollars.

He said it was time for decisive steps and operation Zarb-eAzb was launched. He said the political and military leadership were on the same page on the issue of terrorism and wanted to end it once for all. Prime Minister said the nation had to bear two tragic incidents of attack at Wahga border and Peshawar school after the launch of the operation.

Prime Minister Sharif also recalled his meeting with the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and said both the countries had suffered at the hands of terrorism and had pledged that neither country will allow use of its soil against the other.

He said all hideouts and sanctuaries of terrorists inside Pakistan's territory have been wiped out and this has also been appreciated by the Afghan leadership. He said it was not merely a new chapter in ties with Afghanistan, rather it was a new book. Referring to relations with India, the Prime Minister said wars were no solution as all issues needed to be resolved through dialogue because regional peace and stability depended on peace. He regretted that Pakistan's ties with India were not ideal and said he visited the neighbouring country on the invitation of the new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as he wanted cordial ties with all neighbours. He said it was agreed between the two prime ministers to have a meeting of their Foreign Secretaries to kick off the dialogue process, however India unilaterally called off the meeting, on the pretext that Pakistani ambassador met the Kashmiri leadership.

The Prime Minister said the incidents of firing along the Line of Control from the other side seemed to be an attempt to mar the bilateral relations. Recalling his talks with former Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Lahore Declaration and initiation of the Pakistan-India Bus Service, he said there was a mutual desire to improve relations amicably and said this spirit should continue.