13 December 2004	Monday	30 Shawwal 1425

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

QUETTA, Dec 12: Law-enforcement agencies on Sunday detained 20 people for their suspected involvement in Friday's bomb blast and traffic police did not allow people to park bicycles in commercial areas in the city.

Capital City Police Officer Pervaiz Rafi Bhatti told newsmen that the number of people arrested in connection with the blast had risen to 35 and senior officials were interrogating them. He said the suspects were arrested from different areas.

He said police had taken strict measures to combat terrorism and protect people. Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yusuf visited the site of the blast. He also visited a hospital to inquire about the health of those injured in the incident.

Talking to newsmen, he said traffic police had been directed not to allow bicycles and motorbikes in commercial areas of the city. He said traffic police had been asked to prepare a plan for parking of bicycles and motorbikes in the city and a place behind the Radio Pakistan's station and Habib Nullah would be allotted for the purpose.

He said the government was determined to eliminate the terrorist network with the help of people. He said the law-enforcement agencies had made security arrangements to foil the designs of saboteurs who wanted to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the province.

He asserted that an overwhelming majority of people in Balochistan was patriotic and it supported the government's developmental programme but a small group that had no future in politics was spreading propaganda against major projects.

The chief minister said the government would not compromise with anti-people elements and it would continue to implement the development programme to remove backwardness in the province despite subversive activities.

He said the government was considering a proposal to enhance the compensation for the victims of the blast. A meeting presided over by the chief minister discussed the law and order situation, especially in the context of the blast.

The meeting was informed that police and other law-enforcement agencies had been directed to improve their performance to deal effectively with saboteurs and anti-social elements and ensure safety of citizens.

It requested people to cooperate with the law-enforcement agencies in tracing those behind the act. It said better coordination between police and citizens would be helpful in frustrating the designs of saboteurs and ensuring protection of people.