Jaffar Express Tragedy
In the wake of the deadly terrorist attack on the Jaffar Express in Balochistan’s Bolan district, political leaders from both the government and opposition have called for unity to combat terrorism.
The attack, claimed by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), resulted in the deaths of 21 passengers and four security personnel, while 440 hostages were held during a day-long standoff. Pakistani security forces successfully rescued the hostages and eliminated 33 terrorists in a strategic operation.
Following the tragedy, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the need for a political consensus to address the rising wave of terrorism. Drawing parallels with the 2014 Army Public School (APS) attack, PM Shehbaz emphasized the importance of national unity to support the armed forces in eradicating terrorism.
He announced plans to convene an All Parties Conference (APC), similar to the one held after the APS attack, to collectively formulate a strategy against terrorism.
Rana Sanaullah, PM Shehbaz’s political and public affairs advisor, also stressed the importance of political unity, reminding the nation that former PM Nawaz Sharif had reached out to Imran Khan after the APS attack for a united front against terrorism.
He stated that PM Shehbaz is willing to sit with all political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), to address the current crisis.
However, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticized PTI for setting conditions, including the release of Imran Khan on parole, before participating in the APC. Asif insisted that the fight against terrorism is a national issue that must be addressed unconditionally.
On the other hand, PTI leaders also condemned the attack. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja called the Jaffar Express incident a national tragedy and urged unity to address the root causes of terrorism, especially in Balochistan.
PTI Senator Shibli Faraz also demanded an APC to discuss the issue and called for Imran Khan’s release to ensure PTI’s participation in the conference.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari echoed similar sentiments, urging all political parties to unite against terrorism, warning that failure to do so would allow terrorism to spread across the region.
The National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning the Jaffar Express attack and commending the bravery of Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Frontier Corps, SSG, and law enforcement agencies for rescuing the hostages.
The resolution also pledged to eliminate terrorism from every corner of the country and to take strict action against those who threaten Pakistan’s peace and sovereignty.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry also emphasized the need for dialogue with the Baloch people but asserted that militants have no connection with the Baloch public.
Similarly, Sahibzada Hamid Raza, head of the Sunni Ittehad Council and a PTI ally, called for a national dialogue to address the root causes of unrest in Balochistan.
The incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for political unity to effectively combat terrorism and protect the lives and security of Pakistani citizens.
