July 16, 2003	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 15, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, July 15: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali directed Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat on Tuesday to enhance security to curb terrorism and sectarianism.

Presiding over a high level meeting at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, he reviewed the overall law and order situation in the country with special reference to the Quetta killings and an operation being conducted by the law enforcement agencies at tri- junction joining Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab provinces.

The meeting was a prelude to a forthcoming meeting on law and order to be held on Friday in which interior minister and secretary, finance secretary, governors, chief ministers, chief secretaries, inspector generals of police, inspector generals of Frontier Constabulary of Balochistan and NWFP, director generals of rangers of Punjab and Sindh and officials of other law enforcement agencies are likely to participate.

Mr Jamali said the government was determined to fight terrorism, sectarianism and religious extremism to ensure protection of citizens’ life and property.

He was of the view that the recent spate of terrorist killings in Balochistan was intended to retard and hamper the development projects launched in the province to bring improve living standards.

“Internal and external factors have paved the way for such gory incidents. However, there will be no let up in our determination to combat terrorism as the war against the scourge will be waged with seriousness and all out efforts,” he added.

The premier said safeguarding the lives and property of the people was the fundamental responsibility of the government.

The interior minister, who had recently paid a visit to Quetta, apprised the prime minister about the progress made in probe into the Quetta killings.

He also informed the meeting about the steps taken by the law enforcement agencies to keep strict vigil and stamp out terrorism.

The meeting looked into the ways and means to combat lawlessness and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It emphasized the need for chalking out a strategy to break terrorist network by improving coordination between various law enforcement agencies.

The meeting reviewed the performance of special teams which were constituted to ensure the safety of people on highways.