After brutal terrorist attack in Lahore on Sunday, army along with other law enforcing agencies have initiated operations in South Punjab to target militants and their abettors. In preemptive operations numbers of facilitators of terrorists have been held to counter possible security threats.
The army spokesperson informed the media that a number of suspected terrorists and facilitators have already been arrested during the five raids, which were conducted in Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan after the Lahore suicide explosion.
There were reports that after operation Zarb-e-Azb terrorists were finding other safe areas to reunite. It was being reported that extremists were reuniting themselves in the Southern Punjab. Reportedly, over 60 banned groups are active in Punjab, but the provincial government has failed miserably to check the spread of such outfits. Some fractions of PML-N were allegedly having links with various sectarian organizations in South Punjab. It is the time that government needs to abolish such speculations and to address apprehensions regarding the allegations.
Though military crackdown has been launched in Punjab against banned terrorist outfits but question arises that why we need a terrorist attack to realize the urgency of the matter. Why preemptive measures were not taken to stop terrorists to establishing their feet in Southern Punjab?
The army operation in Punjab is a long-awaited decision and must be appreciated. Military action to curb terrorism must continue relentlessly with full force until the elimination of all terrorists from our country. As fighting against terrorism is shared responsibility, it is time for all of us to stand united in our resolve to defeat terrorism once and for all.
It is time to defeat terrorism once and for all.