Shahbaz says Lahore attack planned in Afghanistan

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Friday that planning of the terrorist attack in Lahore was made in Afghanistan and the suicide bomber who attacked a protest rally on the Mall Road, claiming 14 lives on February 13, also belonged to the neighbouring country.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, the CM said that facilitator of the bomber named Anwaar-ul-Haq belonged to Bajaur Agency who brought the bomber to Lahore. The computerised national identity card of the facilitator and his confessional video was also disclosed by the government in the briefing.
Shahbaz said that the Prime Minister will raise the issue of terrorism with the Afghanistan government. He said terrorism in Pakistan is being sponsored from terrorist networks in Afghanistan. "Army, Rangers and police are assets of the country," he added.
The Chief Minister congratulated Inspector General of Punjab Police and law enforcement agencies for speedy progress in probe of the suicide blast. Shahbaz said that planning of terrorist attacks in Pakistan is done by handlers in Afghanistan which is a matter of serious concern.
He vowed that the government would avenge death of every single victim of terrorist acts. Sharing his views about the ongoing debate over extension in the tenure of military courts, he reiterated stance of the government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz saying that tenure of the courts was needed to be extended for further fruitful results and the government would support the decision in this regard, he pledged.
He lambasted elements that claim presence of sleeper cells in Punjab and said that terrorists were facilitated by a local of Bajaur Agency in the Lahore incident. He condemned a political leader for doing politics on this issue. He said Pakistan is passing through a critical phase and it is time for unity, consensus and solidarity of nation to stand firm against the menace of terrorism and put collective efforts to nip this evil of terrorism in the bud. He said all efforts of enemies to destabilise Pakistan will prove futile if we get united against their conspiracies.