Pakistani president vows to defeat terrorists in Independence Day speech

Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain said on Sunday that the government will take revenge of every drop of the blood of innocent people who lost lives in a recent terrorist attack in the southwestern city of Quetta.

The Islamic States (IS) and a Pakistani Taliban group claimed responsibility for the suicide attack at the emergency department of a hospital on August 8 which killed over 70 people and injured nearly 200 others. Most of those killed were senior lawyers who gathered outside the hospital to collect body of a lawyer who was also killed by militants.

"We are shocked at the Quetta terrorist attack and we stand with the bereaved family. Every Pakistani feels the pain. Blood of the innocent people will not go waste. I announce here, the government will take revenge of the blood of the innocent people," Hussain said in his Independence Day address in Islamabad.

Pakistan is celebrating its 69th Independence Day with traditional enthusiasm to pay homage to those who sacrificed lives to achieve the goal of an independent country for the Muslims of the sub-continent.

"Every visible and invisible enemy will be chased and crushed, in order to establish durable peace in the country," said the Pakistani president.

He said the menace of terrorism will be eliminated from the country by carrying out decisive actions with a renewed determination. Endit