LAHORE: Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Dr Hasan Askari visited Sarwan House to commiserate with the family of Balochistan National Party martyred leader Nawabzada Siraj Raisani. He met with his brother Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani, his son Jamal Khan Raisani and other family members. Caretaker Punjab CM Dr Hassan Askari expressed a deep sense of sorrow and grief over Siraj Raisani’s death and while empathising with the bereaved family, he also prayed for the departed soul. He sympathised with the families of other martyrs who lost their lives in the Mastung incident. He sternly condemned this fatal incident and said that Siraj was the brave son of “our soil and we pay tribute to this valour and courage. Dr Hassan Askari said that Pakistan had lost a true patriot. His services for Pakistan will always be remembered, he added. Hassan Askari further shared that the Mastung incident was one of the worst incidents of terrorism and the Punjab government as well as the people of Punjab are standing in solidarity with the aggrieved families. He said that he had come to Quetta to visit the grieving families only and to let them know they weren’t alone. He said that anti-social elements are conspiring to destroy the peace of Pakistan and such coward acts are just to create chaos and destabilise Pakistan however the nation will not let any such conspiracy win. “We will face them with unity and bravery,” he added and further shared that Pakistani nation will fight back and restore peace. He said that we have rendered numerous sacrifices in the war against terrorism. Askari said that the nation will always remember the sacrifices of martyrs in the war against terrorism. The caretaker chief minister also prayed for the quick recovery of those who were injured in this incident. Caretaker Chief Minister Balochistan Allauddin Mari was also present there. Caretaker Provincial Ministers Zia Haider Rizvi, chief secretary Punjab and secretary to CM Punjab also accompanied Askari in this visit. Caretaker Minister Information Punjab Ahmed Waqas Riaz said that there is reality in the statements issued by some political leaders regarding interview of Askari to foreign media. In his statement he stated that frequent comments of international media regarding transparency of election and caretaker governments is quiet shady. He said that our interim government is playing its impartial role from day one for fair and independent elections. He said that all departments are displaying their proactive role to ensure code of conduct issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan at every level. Likewise all political parties are being provided by equal opportunities to take part in their election campaigns. Separately, Askari congratulated the students who got top positions in Matriculation examinations. Askari said that position holders have made their parents and teachers proud as these students are glowing stars of Pakistan. He said that some under-privileged students have achieved high positions with their passion and hard-work, adding that the bright future of “our country is linked to these intelligent students”. Askari said that hard-work in any field never goes un-rewarded. He said that our intellectual and hardworking students have full capacity of changing the shape of Pakistan’s development. He also said that it is the power of knowledge and education through which a nation acquires glory for itself. “Knowledge is that ornament without which economic and social development is not possible,” Askari said. Published in Daily Times, July 22nd 2018.