July 8, 2003	Tuesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 7,1424

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QUETTA, July 7: The Balochistan cabinet on Monday directed the home department, police and law enforcement agencies to evolve a comprehensive security plan for the provincial capital within 24 hours and implement it.

The cabinet, in a meeting presided over by Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousaf, took serious notice of the law and order situation with special reference to the recent firing incident in an Imambargah that claimed 53 lives.

It affirmed that the provincial government would fulfil its responsibilities to protect the life and property of the people and would not allow anybody to destroy the peaceful atmosphere of Balochistan.

Sources said the cabinet decided that security arrangements would be made more strict and effective at all sensitive and worship places. The police and other law enforcement agencies were asked to keep a vigilant eye on the activities of suspected people.

It decided that police and levies guards would be deployed around all worship places, specially during Friday prayers, to ensure security of the people.

The cabinet decided to constitute peace committees comprising Ulema of different schools of thought, tribal elders and leaders of the city, which would meet regularly and provide guidance and suggestions to the government for improving the law and order.

It asked the levies and police to establish close coordination to act against terrorists and criminals.

It was decided that the problem of shortage of police and administrative officers would be resolved and the federal government would be approached for the appointment of the officers in the province according to the federal quota.

It appealed to the Ulema to give a message of brotherhood and harmony in their sermons.

Home Secretary Dr Badaruddin Ujan, the inspector-general of police, Balochistan, and the levies director-general briefed the cabinet about the performance of their departments.

The cabinet decided to constitute a standing committee, led by Services and General Administration Minister Mir Abdul Rahman Jamali, about the extension in the service of the Pat Feeder command area project employees. The committee would submit its report in the next cabinet meeting.

The cabinet members offered Fateha for the victims of the Imambargah firing incident and expressed solidarity with their families.

PEACE COMMITTEES: Balochistan Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Qadir has asked Nazims and councillors to constitute peace committees at the union council level for maintaining law and order as well as harmony.

He said this while speaking to Nazims and members of union, towns and district councils here at the Governors House on Monday.

Stressing upon the councillors to play their role in apprehending culprits involved in the Quetta killings, he said: “If you find any clue (regarding) the culprits involved in tragic incident, you must inform institutions concerned without any delay.”

Describing the imambargah incident as being an inhuman act, the governor said that he did not believe that the people involved in the incident were Muslims, adding that they could not even be called human beings. “They do not deserve any sympathy or mercy,” Lt Gen Qadir remarked.

Terming the criminals involved in the incident enemies of humanity, Islam and the country, the Balochistan governor said it was the collective responsibility of the entire nation to make concerted efforts to rout them.

Urging Nazims and councillors to maintain harmony and brotherhood, Lt Gen Qadir said that elements, bent upon fanning sectarian hatred and disharmony should be discouraged.

Public representatives, he said, should inform the law enforcement agencies about activities of such elements.

He told the gathering that it had already been decided that in-charge of every police station should visit his respective area and discuss issues related with law and order situation with the councillors.

Quetta City Government Nazim Abdul Rahim Kakar was also present on the occasion.

During the meeting, Nazims and councillors also presented various suggestions in this regard.