ISLAMABAD, March 28 (DNA): Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday renewed his firm resolve to uproot the scourge of terrorism, extremism and sectarianism from the country.The Prime Minister was addressing the nation over Radio Pakistan and Television networks tonight in the backdrop of Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park tragedy in Lahore.

“I reiterate my commitment that we will take revenge for each and every drop of blood of our martyrs. We will not sit idle unless we bring the perpetrators of violence to justice,” Prime Minister Sharif said in his address.

While expressing sorrow over the Gulshan Iqbal Park tragedy, the Prime Minister has vowed to avenge every drop of blood shed by terrorists in the country.

“I understand that at this moment the entire nation is grieving the loss of innocent lives in Lahore tragedy and what message these terrorists want to convey by hitting soft targets,” the premier said.

The address came a day after 72 people mostly children and women were killed in a deadly blast at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Lahore. “We are fully aware what message terrorists want to deliver by hitting soft targets and innocent people,” he said, adding that failure was their (militants) fate.

He lamented that previous governments had not taken any notice of the growing threat of terrorism over the last 13 years.

“We launched Zarb-e-Azb Operation and achieved major targets with the great sacrifices of our troops,” he said. The prime minister said that his mission would continue unless the scourge of terrorism was uprooted. “Lawlessness in the name of religion unacceptable,” he said.

Prime Minister Sharif maintained that his government would not accept lawlessness and rioting under the garb of the Almighty and Holy Prophet by some elements.

“Our leniency shouldn’t be misconstrued as our weakness,” he said, referring to violent march of Mumtaz Qadri’s supporters in Islamabad.

“It is our legal and constitutional responsibility to protect the state of Pakistan. We will bring those spreading religious hatred and sectarianism to justice.”

He further said that his government would not let terrorists regroup again.

“I am here to pledge that we will avenge every drop of blood shed by terrorists in the country,” he asserted, adding that we will not have a sigh of relief until the last drop of martyrs’ blood has not been avenged.

Referring to the recent spats of terrorist attacks outside of Pakistan, the premier said, “Terrorism has become a global threat and the whole world is affected by it.”

He noted that terrorism had become an international challenge as witnessed in Ankara, Istanbul, Brussels and Paris.

“In the past three years, the government and security agencies — with the national resolve backing them — have reduced terrorist activities,” said Nawaz. =DNA
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