03 October 2004	Sunday	17 Shaban 1425

SIALKOT, Oct 2: Punjab Minister for Law and Local Government Raja Muhammad Basharat visited the Markazi Imam Bargah and the site of Friday's blast, Zainabia mosque.

He met local Shia leaders led by Central Vice-President of Tehreek-i-Islami Pakistan Allama Abdul Jalil Naqvi and Allama Ghulam Abbas Naqvi.

Raja urged them to bear this tragedy with fortitude and remain peaceful. He also visited the houses of some victims and appealed to people who had gathered there to cooperate with the administration so that those involved in the crime could be awarded deterrent punishment.

DISCHARGED: Twenty (20) of the injured were discharged from different hospitals after medical treatment.

Punjab Health Minister Tahir Ali Javed told APP that a seriously injured child had been shifted to Lahore General Hospital (LGH), while another person with serious injuries was now recovering.

He said most of the victims were being treated at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Allama Iqbal Hospital, Sialkot, where they were being provided with free treatment.

Minister said that he had directed health authorities in Sialkot to mobilise all resources for providing best treatment to the victims.

MONITORING: Raja Muhammad Basharat, Minister for Labour & Human Resources Syed Akhtar Hussain Rizvi, Minister for Industries Muhammad Ajmal Cheema on Monday monitored the situation while staying at the DPO office accompanied by Sialkot District Nazim Mian Naeem Javaid, Tehsil Nazims of Sialkot, Daska and Pasrur and Sialkot DCO Syed tahir Raza Naqvi.

The provincial ministers did not attended the mass funeral due to security reasons.

APP adds: Moving scenes were witnessed when the victims were laid to rest in a local graveyard.

Meanwhile, people belonging to different walks of life including religious and political leaders strongly condemned the incident and stressed the need of adopting solid steps for averting threats of terrorism.

Various trade bodies, including the local chamber, also strongly condemned the brutal act and expressed their sympathies with the bereaved families.

Sialkot District Nazim Mian Naeem Javed accused some political parties of instigating people as a result the processionists damaged the chambers of lawyers' community, the nazim's office and created disturbance in the city.

Naeem Javed said that such elements were trying to create chaos and unrest through negative activities just for their vested interest.

Socio-political circles alleged that city police had failed to maintain law and order in Sialkot and appealed to the Punjab Chief Minister to take immediate measures.

FUND: The Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has set up a fund of Rs 3million for bomb blast victims and their families.

SCCI President Qaiser A. Shabbir said the amount would be raised further. He said 'Yaum-i-Akhuwwat' (brotherhood day) would be observed on Sunday for expressing solidarity with the bereaved families.

Shabbir said that people from different walks of life would participate in this peace walk.