Ruling parties' meeting held amid tight security -DAWN


09 October 2004	Saturday	23 Shaban 1425

Ruling parties' meeting held amid tight security
By Ahmed Hassan

ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: In the wake of latest terrorist incidents in Sialkot and Multan, the security administration has taken extra measures for the safety and protection of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Parliament House is already under surveillance of security agencies and heavy concrete blocks have been put in place to protect the front gate. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who presided over the ruling coalition parliamentary parties' meeting before the start of National Assembly session at the Parliament House, was escorted by a large number of intelligence agencies' agents.

It was for the first time in the history of the Parliament House that security personnel in plain clothes and uniform, including army jawans, pushed everyone away from the path through which Prime Minister Aziz was to pass.

One of the security officials even shouted back at a senior journalist "what press" when the gentleman introduced himself and tried to move towards the committee room where the prime minister was presiding over the meeting.

The journalists who as a routine used to stand and stroll outside the committee room, the venue of ruling party meeting, were forced away as about over a dozen security personnel manned all its entry gates.

The security staff also made it sure that the prime minister did not face reporters to answer questions about the latest law and order breakdown. Meanwhile, the coalition parliamentary parties' meeting remained a dull affair as it started half an hour late with dismally low attendance.

The prime minister exchanged views with the MPs on the current session with special focus on the issue of ensuring maximum attendance during the presentation and passage of act which would give the president legitimacy to retain army chief's office beyond December 31.

Mr Aziz also briefed the coalition partners about the special cell that had been set up at Prime Minister's Secretariat to keep contact with them and resolve their problems.