PESHAWAR: Governor warns against disruption of peace
Bureau Report
PESHAWAR, Nov 8: The NWFP governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah on Thursday said that the people who are talking of rebellion and disruption of peace would not be spared.
The freedom of expression allowed by the government should not be misused and the elements doing so would be brought to justice, he said. He was talking to Nazims and councillors during his visit to Batagram.
The governor said that violence and disorder would only serve the enemy’s designs.
“The government,” he said, “is not oblivious to their plans. These are people who have failed miserably in mustering peoples’ support in the past.”
Referring to the closure of the Karakoram Highway, the governor said that the blockade only disrupted the life of the people.
He advised the people of the area to take such elements to task who were adding to their miseries.
The governor said: “We are with the Afghan people and would not take any step repugnant to their interest. But it is for the Afghans to decide how they wanted to come out of the present crisis.”
He said that the government’s decision to join the international coalition against terrorism was in the national interest and all those who were opposing it were not sincere to the country.
The president has spelled out time and again the thought behind the decision to support the international alliance against terrorism.
The governor said that the Indian government was doing its utmost to isolate Pakistan; it was the president’s timely decision which has provided security to the people Pakistan.
Traders: A delegation of the traders on Thursday held a meeting with provincial ministers Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani, Owais Ahmad Ghani and Mohammad Abbas Khan to express their dissociation with the strike called for Friday.
The traders’ representatives said that strengthening the economy was above all interests and there was no room for strikes or agitation in the prevailing situation.
They hoped that the government had taken appropriate steps to cover the loss being borne by the economy due to the Afghan war.
They appreciated the government decision to allow public meetings and processions at Shahi Bagh only.
Information Minister Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani agreed with traders that the Afghan war and subsequent influx of refugees had affected the economy of NWFP to a considerable extent.
He assured that the provincial government would approach the Centre for obtaining a special development package for the province.
