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

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ISLAMABAD, July 7: The Punjab government will not hinder the Opposition from launching a protest campaign in Rawalpindi, said the Punjab chief minister, Pervaiz Elahi, while talking to reporters here at Parliament House on Monday.

The campaign is being launched on the call of All Parties Conference from August 14.

“We will not allow any one to deteriorate the law and order situation in the province during the campaign,” the chief minister warned and said the violators of law would be dealt sternly.

Expressing satisfaction over the law and order situation in the province, he said measures were being taken to improve it.

In reply to a question, the chief minister said the Opposition’s stubbornness in and outside parliament was regrettable. The Opposition should bring a positive change in its attitude and cooperate with the government for strengthening democracy in the country, he added.

He termed the Punjab budget 2003-04 people friendly and said its aftermaths would be felt soon.

He said a major chunk of the budget had been reserved for health, education and social sector and funds were being released to initiate different development programmes for the welfare of people.