KARACHI, May 7: The NWFP Chief Minister, Akram Durrani, said on Friday that use of force was not a solution to any problem, and issues could only be resolved through dialogue.

Peace, he said, can be achieved through negotiations and not by strong-arm tactics.

Mr Durrani was the guest speaker at "Meet-the-press" programme of Karachi Press Club on Friday. He recalled the Wana incident and said that he had advized rulers against use of force, and when tribal customs were applied, it led to an amicable resolution of the Wana issue.

Similarly, he said, it had been made clear that if anyone wanted to go to war, he could go to Afghanistan, and that Pakistani territory could not be allowed to be used in any manner in this regard.

He said those tribal families which had developed relationships with them would ensure that such people do not cross the border. Regarding wheat crisis in the country, he said during the last 55 years, agriculture remained a most neglected sector in the NWFP.

"When we asked the Punjab government for provision of wheat, they have declined," saying that they would not be able to meet the NWFP demand for wheat. He said now the NWFP government was paying special attention to promotion of agriculture and there was an ample opportunity to develop agriculture in Dera Ismail Khan, Karak, Bannu and Tank.

He condemned the incident of terrorism in Karachi on Friday and said the vested interest was behind the incident and they wanted to give a bad name to Islam. Stressing the need for going to the root cause of the tragedy, he recalled that in his province, too, some missiles were fired.

A thorough investigation, he said, revealed that a conspiracy was being hatched to create chaos and anarchy in the country. The arrested persons, he said, confessed that the were given money to kill some religious leaders.

Referring to the situation prevailing in the country and abroad, the NWFP chief minister said that a peculiar lobby wanted to defame Islam. The chief minister also spoke about the steps taken by the government for enforcement of Shariat in the NWFP. A bill was unanimously adopted in the assembly and the changes taking place in the NWFP would have a far-reaching impact on the country.

Mr Durrani also spoke about the by-election in Karachi in which MMA had put up its candidate and said that during his luncheon meeting with the Sindh Chief Minister, Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar, he had requested him to check rigging in the election as all eyes were looking towards him.

The chief minister also presented a cheque for Rs 100,000 to the Karachi Press Club. Earlier, KPC president Nizamuddin Siddiqui welcomed the guest speaker and secretary Khursheed Abbasi introduced the guest.