February 24, 2006	Friday	Muharram 25, 1427

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LAHORE, Feb 23: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi said on Thursday the people, whose property was burnt and damaged during violence in the city, would be compensated. Speaking at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat after handing over keys of new motorcycles to 25 people whose two-wheelers were burnt during violence in Lahore last week, he reiterated that those resorting to agitation in the garb of protest against the blasphemous caricatures were interested more in Islamabad than Islam but the government would foil all their designs.

“These elements are playing their old game which the government fully understands. They will fail on all accounts,” he asserted.

Ministers Muhammad Basharat Raja, Ajmal Cheema, Imran Masood, Lahore Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood and senior officers were also present.

The chief minister said the publication of the cartoons had hurt the feelings of all Muslims who had been protesting against it. The federal government, too, lodged a strong protest with the Danish government and recalled Pakistan’s ambassador.

He said the prime minister raised the issue at the OIC meeting as a result of which a unified stance of the Muslim Ummah was about to come.

On the contrary, the chief minister said, some elements were making plans to exploit the incident for their personal and political benefits, harming the cause of Islam and Muslims.

“What was the fault of those whose shops, motorcycles and other property were damaged during the protests. Which type of service they are rendering to Islam and Muslims?” he asked. “Has anybody ever burnt his home in protest against any issue,” he wondered.

He said those indulged in the loot and arson had been identified. They and their political designs had been exposed. They had held long marches in the past but this time their similar attempts would fail. These elements had no sympathy with the sentiments of Muslims and they only wanted their political ends.

He announced that a committee, comprising communication minister Chaudhry Zaheeruddin and Mian Amer, had been constituted to assess the extent of damage to the property of people in Lahore. The money to be given as compensation would be recovered from those who had damaged the property. The government knew how to recover the money, he said, adding no-one would be allowed to again indulge in violence.

Talking to reporters, the chief minister said the government had given motorcycles to people without considering their political affiliations. They did not belong to any political party and the government had just taken into account their loss.

He again condemned the elements who, he said, were resorting to agitation to advance their political agenda. He said they had been trying to create disturbance in the country for the past three years.

These elements were sitting in the assemblies, drawing allowances and running governments in two provinces and were now playing their old game.

He said all arrangements had been made for maintaining law and order in Lahore on Feb 26. No-one would be allowed to resort to violence. There would be no permission to hold a rally on The Mall but a meeting could be held at the Minar-i-Pakistan.

He said around 104 motorcycles were burnt and the government would give new motorcycles to all the owners.

Mian Amer said the government had decided to give new motorcycles to those whose vehicles were burnt so as to allow them earn their livelihood.