Shehbaz stays with Army jawans in Miranshah

LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited Miranshah area of North Waziristan to show solidarity with the officers and jawans of Pakistan Army on Tuesday.

According to a DGPR handout issued here, he visited Pak-Afghan border area as well as the 7th Division Headquarters where he was briefed by GOC Maj. Gen. Azhar Abbasi. He laid floral wreath at the monument of the martyrs and offered Fateha for the departed souls.

The chief minister paid rich tributes to the great sacrifices of martyrs who had sacrificed their lives for the beloved motherland. He also went to Katoon area falling at the fringe of Pak-Afghan border where he was briefed about management of the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan and its fencing.

During the visit, the chief minister also went to Younis Khan Sports Complex. Talking on the occasion, he said fencing of Pak-Afghan border had helped to overcome the incidents of terrorism. Punjab government had extended its support for fencing in past and would also do the same in future.

The chief minister said he had come to Miranshah and at the border area to show solidarity with the brave officers and jawans of Pak Army. The history of most daring examples of success in war against terrorism had been written with the blood of our brave sons, he added.

He said there was no other example of such great sacrifices in the history of the nations and the historic efforts put forth by the Pak Army would never be forgotten by the nation.

In fact, the role of Pak Army would be written with golden words for overcoming the menace of terrorism from the beloved motherland. The brave officers and jawans had written stories of success with their precious blood, he added. The whole nation was standing shoulder to shoulder with the armed forces of Pakistan. War against terrorism was the struggle of national survival and "we have to win it at every cost."

He said success of operation Rad-ul-Fasad after Zarb-e-Azb was the triumph of the whole nation and asserted that he saluted the officers and jawans over their bravery and courage. In fact, such a war had never been fought in the history of the nations and the unforgettable role played by the armed forces would never be forgotten by Pakistani nation, the Chief Minister added.

Senator Mushahid Hussain, President PML-N KPK Ameer Muqam and spokesman Punjab government Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan also accompanied the Chief Minister.

Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also spent three hours with Pak Army officers and jawans at Miranshah area of North Waziristan Agency (NWA) near Pak-Afghan border.

The chief minister, on his arrival at 7th Division Headquarters Miranshah, was welcomed by General Officer Commending Maj. Gen. Azhar Abbasi who briefed him about the successes of Pak Army in war against terrorism.

He said more than 4,500 officers and jawans of 11th Corps had sacrificed their lives in war against terrorism whereas more than 16,000 had been injured.

He disclosed that 521 major operations had been conducted against the terrorists and their facilitators and as a result of these strenuous efforts, terrorists had been totally flushed out from the North Waziristan.

Shehbaz Sharif paid rich tributes to the great sacrifices of officers and jawans of Pak Army in the war against terrorism and said there was no other example of such great sacrifices in the history of the world, adding that he saluted officers and jawans of Pak army.

He said purpose of his visit was to express solidarity with the brave sons of the soil. He also laid floral wreath at the monument of the martyrs and offered Fateha for the departed souls.

The chief minister went to Younis Khan Sports Complex where he was shown a sample compound where terrorists used to store their firearms, besides confining the kidnapped persons. The chief minister was also shown foreign currency, a room where suicide jackets were prepared and the underground jail. The chief minister was told that such compounds were also situated in other areas and these had been destroyed.

The chief minister went to Katoon area, falling at the fringe of Pak-Afghan border where he was briefed about management of the international border between Pakistan and Afghanistan and its fencing.

He lauded the installation of fencing work and said that this would greatly help stop the infiltration of terrorists from the other side of the border. He said that Punjab government had provided Rs one billion for erecting fence at Pak-Afghan border as it was a matter of survival of Pakistan and they were ready to give any sacrifice for Pakistan.

Maj. Gen. Azhar Abbasi thanked the Chief Minister Punjab for cooperation by Punjab government.