Martyrs’ sacrifices won’t go waste, says Shahbaz

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said martyred police officials and citizens are heroes of the nation and their sacrifices will not go waste. The nation salutes those sacrificing their lives for the country’s peace and families of martyrs will be fully looked after.

The chief minister chaired a meeting of the provincial Cabinet Committee on Law and Order on Tuesday in which the preliminary report regarding the suicide attack in the Kot Lakhpat vegetable market was presented.

The meeting reviewed the overall law and order situation in the province. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said a very tragic incident of terrorism occurred in Lahore the other day in which the ‘beasts’ targeted brave police officials and innocent citizens.

He said this horrific incident grieved the country and every person was moved to tears. He said we have to take effective steps jointly to cope with the challenge of terrorism and added that implementation of the plan evolved in this regard should be ensured in letter and spirit. He directed that more effective steps should be taken for safeguarding the life of the people and their property.

The chief minister said the entry and exit points of the province and cities should be strictly monitored and added that action be taken against terrorists and their facilitators in an effective manner. He said enemy is conspiring against peace and we have to foil its nefarious designs with the force of unity. He said all-out treatment should be provided to the injured. He said food and other facilities should be regularly provided to the attendants of the wounded persons. He thanked the provincial health minister, secretaries’ health and their team, the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order and the administration on relief activities and provision of the best treatment facilities to the injured. ‘Dua’ was offered for the martyrs as well as early recovery of the injured during the meeting.

Provincial ministers Rana Sanaullah, Lt-Col Ayub Gadhi (retd), Kh Salman Rafiq, Kh Imran Nazir, chief secretary, additional chief secretary home, Inspector General Police, senior officials and officers concerned of civil law-enforcement agencies attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the chief minister visited the Ittefaq Hospital early morning Tuesday and inquired after the admitted police officials and other injured persons who sustained injuries in the suicide blast. He directed the hospital administration to provide the best treatment facilities to the injured.

The chief minister also announced financial assistance for the heirs of martyred persons and the injured in the blast. He said the Punjab government will give financial assistance of Rs20 lakh each to the heirs of martyrs while Rs10 lakh will be given to each critically injured person and Rs3 lakh to minor injured persons.

According to another report, the chief minister said Majeed Nizami was a brave journalist who set a unique example in the field of journalism. In his message on the third death anniversary of Majeed Nizami, the chief minister said he has rendered invaluable services for the supremacy of democracy and the Constitution.