PESHAWAR - Senior Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bashir Ahmad Bilour has expressed his strong condemnation over rocket attack at Ibrahim market in Hayatabad Township on Thursday night.
He said terrorists wanted to destabilise the country and demoralise nation by conducting such subversive activities, but they would not succeed in attainment of their nefarious designs. “The whole nation is united and has a bold stance that terrorists will not be allowed to push us back towards darkness and backwardness,” Bilour remarked.
He said the menace of militancy and extremism will be completely eliminated from the country with the help of people.
In a press statement issued here on Friday, Bashir Bilour said terrorists have become a potential threat to humanity and they will be dealt with iron hand at all costs. The nation, he continued, has already rendered matchless sacrifices in fight against terrorism and will continue to render more for the safety and security of the motherland.
He said no religion in the world allows terrorism and those involved in such heinous activities have no faith. He said they were committing these crimes to cause destabilisation in Pakistan.
Terrorists, he continued, are like an ugly scar on the face of humanity. He said they did not leave any chance to inflict damage on the mankind. They have left no place and targeted innocent people in mosques, bazaars, imam bargahs. Even women and children are not spared by the terrorists, he added. The senior minister reiterated the government’s resolve that fight against militancy and terrorism will continue till complete elimination of this menace from the country.
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakthunkhwa, Chief Minister, Ameer Haider Khan Hoti said on Friday that democracy will be protected at all costs and no body would be allowed to harm the democratic system achieved after a long struggle.
Talking to journalists at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, the Chief Minister said ANP will not permit any one to derail or harm democracy and will give every sacrifice to make it stronger.
He said their MPAs are loyal to the party and will exercise their votes in line with ANP policy and consciousness.
The Chief Minister rejected the impression that ANP MPAs will deviate from party’s policy. He said there was no ban on media coverage in the assembly on occasion of Senate polling and Election Commission Pakistan is independent and can take notice of every situation as all powers for holding smooth, fair and transparent election existed with ECP.
Hoti said unfortunately opposition did not reciprocate to the positive gesture of ruling coalition reed candidates for Senate. He said Senate election was part of democratic process that will strengthen democracy in the country.
 Federal Minister for Water and Power, Syed Naveed Qamar said on Friday that Senate election would make democracy stronger and expressed the hope that every political party in parliament will get seats as per its strength.
Talking to reporters at Khyber Pakthunkhwa Assembly here, the minister said holding of Senate election was a part of democratic process that will strengthen democracy and democratic institutions in the country. He expressed the hope that all political parties will get seats as per their strength in the parliament and provincial assemblies.
The minister said that government was striving hard to address the issue of loadshedding and a number of steps have been taken in this regard. Due to successful policies and timely measures of the government, he said, the gap between supply and demand of electricity has been reduced.
Regarding fuel surcharge tariff issue, he said, a uniformed policy existed throughout the country and every decision would be taken keeping in view the situation on ground. He said no injustice would be made with any province in this regard. The minister urged consumers to regularly pay their electricity bills to help have a control over the menace of loadshedding in summer.