ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: President Pervez Musharraf has said that certain anti-social and criminal elements are trying to exploit the sentiments of the nation on the issue of blasphemous cartoons to create law and order problems in the country.
“Through their irresponsible acts, innocent lives have been lost, property of general public damaged and the country’s image tarnished,” he said while presiding over a meeting held on Wednesday to review the law and order situation in the wake of violent demonstrations against publication of blasphemous cartoons by some European newspapers.
The president expressed concern over the law and order situation in the country and said that violence leading to loss of life and property during demonstrations would not be tolerated.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Religious Affairs Minister Ijazul Haq, Pakistan Muslim League secretary-general Syed Mushahid Hussain and senior officials attended the meeting.
According to an official statement, the president and the prime minister reiterated their condemnation of cartoons and said there was no difference of opinion on the issue and the nation and Ummah were unanimously condemning the sacrilegious act.
They said Pakistan had taken up the issue at all important international forums and conveyed its strong condemnation to diplomats of the countries where the cartoons were published.
The prime minister said the provincial governments had been directed to take steps to protect life and property of the citizens and identify anti-social elements.
He said the government would not allow vested interests and criminals to take the law into their hands and create problems for people.
Ministers for interior and foreign affairs briefed the meeting on the latest situation and steps taken at national and international levels in this regard.
Meanwhile, an inter-provincial security meeting was held in the interior ministry to work out a joint strategy to tackle deteriorating law and order situation, sources said.
The meeting presided over by the interior minister was attended by Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah and the home secretaries and inspectors general of police of the four provinces.
It decided to take stern action against elements involved in damaging state and private property.
