PARACHINAR – Soon after the chief of army staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa arrived in Parachinar on Friday, the protesters ended their week-long demonstration after the army chief convinced them that their grievances would be addressed.
The COAS met with the local tribal elders and the participants of the sit-in. He was briefed in detail about the security situation in the town and the recent terrorist attack there.
Director General Intra Services Public Relations Major Asif Ghafoor confirmed arrival of additional contingents to beef up security in the area.
Detailing the initiatives taken to address the grievances of protesters who called upon the government to probe a recent spree of violence, Major Asif Ghafoor disclosed that some of the demands were of political nature, however, the ones related to security were taken up and General Bajwa ordered to find solutions to these.
“Additional army contingents have arrived, safe city project has been announced and better security measures will be taken.” said Major Asif Ghafoor.
DG ISPR maintained that the Pakistan Army was committed to providing security to every part of Pakistan.
“The security of the entire country and all the people of Pakistan is equal,” he said.
“We are above any sect. We are Pakistanis and Muslims,” he added.
The ISPR official confirmed the reports suggesting that border fencing with Pakistan’s uneasy neighbour Afghanistan was underway.
“In the first phase the sensitive areas used by terrorists to enter Pakistan would be fenced. While in the second phase the entire Pak-Afghan border would be fenced,” he disclosed and added that a united effort was required to rid Pakistan from the menace of terrorism.