LAHORE – While criticising the performance of the federal government towards curbing terrorism in the country, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif has said killing of innocent Hazara people in Quetta could have been averted had the government taken timely and effective measures after the Alamdar Road tragedy.

Talking to media people at the residence of martyred eye surgeon Dr Ali Haidar, Nawaz Sharif, accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, said after the Alamdar Road incident the government should have taken the matter seriously, but it did nothing as a result of which the Hazara Town tragedy took place. He urged the Centre to protect Hazara community.
Nawaz said the culprits involved in terrorist activities must be brought to book. He claimed the law and order situation in Punjab was better as compared to other provinces.
Shahbaz Sharif, answering a question, refuted his opponents’ accusation that the metro bus project had cost Rs 90 billion. He added paying attention to such false charges was just waste of time. He said Rehman Malik should inform the nation what action he had taken over the brutal murder of hundreds of innocent Muslims in Balochistan. He claimed the law and order situation in Punjab was much better as compared with other provinces. He said there was a lawful and constitutional government in Punjab, which was amicably discharging its responsibilities. He vowed the culprits involved in the tragic murder of Dr Ali Haider and his son would soon have to face a strict legal action.
Earlier, Nawaz and Shahbaz offered condolences to family members of late Prof Dr Ali Haider and his son who were killed in a terrorist incident last week. Nawaz said he was deeply grieved over the brutal murder of Dr Ali Haider and his son, and shared the grief of the members of the bereaved family. He said the services of Dr Ali Haider and his family for the country were highly valuable. Nawaz said Shahbaz was taking personal interest in the case.
 while the police had been directed to arrest the culprits without delay. He said doctors were serving the people and attacks of such kind on them were highly condemnable.
Shahbaz Sharif said the culprits involved in the brutal killing of Dr Ali Haider and his son would not escape punishment. He said this tragic incident was a test case for the police which had been directed to investigate it from every angle, adding he was personally monitoring the investigation of the case to ensure that the culprits would soon be brought to book.