The premier has called for improved co-ordination among law enforcers and intelligence agencies and swifter actions in anti-terror war, a day after a suicide bomb killed more than 70 in Lahore. The army claims a number of arrests were reportedly made and weapons seized in five raids by security forces. On Monday, Nawaz Sharif chairing a top-level security meeting in Lahore to review an overall strategy, said: "We must take this war to the doors of terror outfits before they are able to hit our innocent countrymen.
"Our goal is not only to eliminate terror infrastructure but also the extremist mindset. The provinces should also speed up intelligence-based operations (IBOs) against terrorists. Winning the war on terror is imperative for us. Our resolve is getting stronger against terrorism and coward enemy is hitting soft targets in utter desperation." He also stressed the need for strengthening national unity and burying differences to confront terrorism with a strong resolve and told police and law enforcers to perform their duties better.
The heads of law enforcing and intelligence agencies then briefed the gathering on security and the current investigation into the park attack. The premier, accompanied by Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan, too visited the Jinnah Hospital housing the wounded. The city looked very serene, with national flags flying half mast on all private and public buildings, with District Co-ordination Officer Muhammad Usman saying on Monday all city markets and bazaars would remain closed to remember the dead.