23 March 2004	Tuesday	01 Safar 1425

QUETTA, March 22: Treasury and opposition benches members while condemning the March 2 incident of Ashura procession that claimed about 45 lives stressed that stringent steps should be adopted to combat terrorism to maintain brotherhood and unity amongst the followers of different sects in the tribal society of the province.

Total 28 members including the chief minister expressed their views in the session of provincial assembly that was requisite by the opposition to discuss the tragic incident of Ashura procession and other matters related to the law and order problem and PSDP schemes.

The deputy speaker Mir Muhammad Aslam Bhootani chaired the proceedings that continued for 10 hours with short intervals for prayers and twice uproar was witnessed when opposition and treasury benches traded charges against each other.

The opposition leader on the assurance of leader of the house did not press the joint resolution that demanded the resignation of the coalition government, which failed to protect lives and property of the citizens and the session was prorogued sine die.

Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf in winding speech urged the opposition members to cooperate with the government to eliminate the network of the terrorism that enjoyed the backing of the international terrorists which were responsible for the incidents of June 8 and July 4, 2003 besides March 2, 2004.

He defended the security arrangement made by the government on the occasion of Ashura procession and maintained that saboteurs in the procession of thousands people could not be checked wherein suicide attackers have been brain washed to accomplish the objective through do or die spirit.

The chief minister further said that Judicial Commission was probing the incident and the government would present the findings of the inquiry report before the house after the completion of the process.

He announced that government would punish those law enforcement agency officials if inquiry report proved that the security officials were responsible for the lapses that caused losses of lives and property on March 2.

Provincial Home Minister Mir Muhammad Shoaib Nausherwani informed the house that the terrorist organization activists involved in the attacks on imambargah and police van have been arrested and government was making all efforts to apprehend its gang leader Daud Badani.

He claimed that arrested terrorists that include Shamim, Muhammad Jan, Muhammad Qasim, Shafiqur Rehman, Junaid and Abdul Waheed have confessed for involvement in the attacks.