Extraordinary circumstances entail extraordinary steps: Sharif

As Pakistan reeled under two deadly bomb blasts carried out by the Taliban in the last 24 hours that claimed 33 lives, majority of them soldiers, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today said extraordinary circumstances entail extraordinary steps.

Sharif, who chaired a pre-scheduled cabinet meet today, spoke to Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif in the morning.

He said the country would have to think of extraordinary steps to deal with extraordinary circumstances.

The premier expressed his resolve to ensure rule of law in the country and said political and religious parties would be consulted in this regard.

He said there would be no politicking on the law and order as well as the economic situation of the country and neither would there be any compromise on principles.

Sharif said anti-terrorism courts would be established across the country and prosecutors would be appointed.

His remarks came following a suicide bombing in Rawalpindi which took place close to the Army headquarters.

Thirteen persons including eight Security forces personnel and three school children were killed.

According to preliminary reports, the bomber was between 18 and 20 years of age and wearing a jacket stuffed with about 10 kg of explosives. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the bombing.

Today's blast came just a day after another attack by the Taliban that killed 20 Pakistani soldiers in Bannu cantonment in the northwest Khyber pakhtunkhwa province.