PESHAWAR, Oct 14: The governor NWFP Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has reiterated that Afghan refugees will not be allowed to participate in public meetings or demonstrations, and anyone found involved will be sent back to Afghanistan.
He said that the government of Pakistan had provided them shelter on humanitarian grounds and they should not act in contravention of their refugee status by indulging in demonstration, thereby creating law and order situation.
In a statement issue here on Sunday, the governor while expressing his government’s resolve to maintain law and order at every cost vowed to deal with disruptive elecments with an iron hand.
He said that the law enforcement agencies had been directed to keep a vigilant eye on the lawbreakers and act as per law. “I am personally examining the situation and have kept a close liaison with all the law enforcement agencies in the province,” he added.
The governor said, “Islam teaches us tolerance, moderation and brotherhood and all those deviating from these principles were infect bringing a bad name to Islam adding that we would endeavour to live our life in accordance with these golden principles of Islam.”
The governor alerted the people to be aware of the nefarious designs of these disgruntled elements who were out to create chaos. The solidarity and integrity of Pakistan should be our top priority and all our thinking as well as acts should reflect love for Pakistan.
He said that the government believed in complete freedom of expression but that also ought to be in certain limits, without infringing upon the rights of others.
He made it clear that violence, or any effort on the part of people with vested interests to damage public and private property will not be tolerated, and all those found indulging in such activities will be taken to task.
ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES: The governor Shah called upon the elected representatives to roll-up their sleeves to play an effective role in the unfolding scenario.
The elected representatives have an onerous responsibility to shoulder at this critical juncture of our history. The government had initiated steps to discourage any attempt to disrupt peace in the country. However,
He was talking to Nazim Yasin Khalil and Naib Nazim Haji Saadat Khan of Town-3 Peshawar on Saturday morning. The governor said that the Nazims should rise to the occasion and take the elites and Khateebs of their respective areas into confidence and tell them that the government has no intention to restrict their freedom of expression and thought.
The governor said that we could not afford to allow open and unfettered rallies and demonstrations because there was every possibility that anti-state elements might penetrate such rallies and disturb law and order, and threaten the lives of the people.
The governor said that we have limited resources and unlimited needs. However, the efficient and judicious utilization of these resources could accrue maximum results.
