The political and military leadership including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif accompanied by the National Security Advisor Janjua and Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan dashed off to Quetta in the wake of the deadly militant attack on a police training centre near the provincial capital.  

PTI chairman Imran Khan however insisted that his party would proceed with the scheduled plan of Islamabad lockdown on November 2, which he stated, is a must to eradicate the menace of corruption.

"Whenever we plan to launch a reform movement against corruption in the country such terror attacks happen," Imran said, claiming Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had become a "security risk" for the country.

"The military has made it clear on several occasions that there is a nexus between corruption and militancy, but the government is not ready for accountability. Whenever we announce a protest, something bad happens. Why? So we're not going to call off our protest on November 2," he added.

Imran Khan accused India of creating chaos in Pakistan to sabotage moves against corruption, adding a new doctrine has originated in India which aims to implode Pakistan because they have failed to defeat us militarily.

Talking to journalists outside his Bani Gala residence before his departure for Quetta while suspending his scheduled visit to Abbottabad, he said that Pakistan's nuclear-armed arch rival did not want an inside political reform movement to succeed.

He asked: "When Balochistan Chief Minister is saying that India Is involved in sabotaging law and order in the province then why does not our prime minister raise his voice on the issue at global forums?" "The PM failed to raise the issue of RAW's terror financing in Pakistan and the arrest of its agent Kulbhushan Yadav from Balochistan during his UN visit," he added.

He reiterated that Nawaz Sharif had become a 'security risk' for the country and accused him of being focused only on saving himself from accountability in the wake of the Panama Papers revelations.

The PTI leader also demanded the government highlight the names of those government officials who were involved in leaking the crucial information regarding a high-level security meeting in Islamabad.

Announcing the cancellation of his Abbottabad visit which had been scheduled for Tuesday [today], the PTI chairman said he would now leave for Quetta to inquire after the victims of late Monday night's militant attack on the police training centre.

Imran, however, clarified that his party has no plans to change the date of Islamabad lockdown on November 2 to compel the prime minister to hold himself accountable.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan said that the war on terrorism is not over yet, saying after it was eradicated from within the country, the enemy has started targeting us from across the border.

He acknowledged that there must be a security lapse due to which terror incidents take place, adding if there has been any security lapse, those responsible will be taken to task.

"The people are fed up of lifting coffins of their near and dear ones...we must not give up and through determination and courage we can win this war against the menace of militancy and terrorism," he added.

Brigadier Asad Muneer (Retd), a noted security analyst, termed the Quetta incident a complete security lapse, as it was not a soft target. The poor security arrangements are the main reason for the gory incident in Quetta which claimed scores of precious lives, he said.

"If there were intelligence reports of a terror attack, then how could you leave over 700 security personnel without adequate protection, there were hardly 2-3 security guards outside the building which reflects how prepared the government is to tackle terror threats," he questioned.

He pointed out that Monday's was not the first terror incident in the area as it had come under terrorist attacks earlier as well. Keeping in view the sensitivity of the area, the government should have three tier security arrangements for the police training school, he advised. -Business Recorder