December 28, 2006	Thursday	Zilhaj 06, 1427

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

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Dec 27: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has said that the involvement of a foreign hand in recent terrorist activities in the NWFP cannot be ruled out, particularly in the car bomb blast near the Peshawar airport on Tuesday and last week’s sectarian violence in Dera Ismail Khan.

Talking to Dawn at the Dera Ismail Khan airport on Wednesday, the minister said the government had issued strict directives for improvement of the law and order situation.

He said the NWFP government had been directed to take steps to ensure peace in the province.

He said terrorist activities were being carried out across the country to spread fear.

He said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government was responsible for ensuring a peaceful atmosphere in the province and it should play its role to improve the deteriorating law and order situation.

The minister said that no efforts would be spared to track down the elements involved in the attacks and added that the culprits would be dealt with an iron hand.

Mr Sherpao said special security measures would be adopted ahead of Muharram in sensitive districts such as Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Hangu and Peshawar.

He said some suspects in the murder of Bannu DIG Abid Ali had been apprehended. He said the killers would be arrested at any cost.

APP adds: Talking to reporters at Baloot Sharif, Mr Sherpao said that although law and order was basically a provincial subject, the federal government has convened a meeting with the NWFP government soon after Eidul Azha to discuss ways and means to solve the problem.

He said the federal government would take stern action against the elements playing with the lives of innocent people, as they deserved no mercy.

He said arrangements for foolproof security for Muharram and Ashura would also be discussed at the meeting.

The minister said that directives had been issued to law-enforcement agencies to utilise all available resources for protection of the lives and properties of the citizens.

He said the district administrations had to play an active role against terrorism.

Besides necessary assistance to the province, the federal government would also provide Frontier Corps platoons and army contingents to it in case of emergency, he said.

In reply to a question, he said it was an established fact that subversive incidents were linked with international terrorism.

When asked about the reported contacts between the government and the People’s Party Parliamentarians, the minister said he would welcome the move and added that it would have a positive impact on the prosperity and development of the country and for elimination of terrorism.