ISLAMABAD, March 4: The government has termed the recent spate of suicide bombings an attempt by terrorists to pressurise the next government.

Interior Ministry Spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema told reporters at his weekly press briefing on Tuesday that militants and terrorists were trying to put pressure on the new government, “but the people of the country are clear that they would not come under any pressure”.

He said: “It is unfortunate that there have been three suicide attacks during the last one week in the NWFP only. A suicide attack at the Pakistan Naval War College Lahore and other terrorist and suicide attacks are aimed at exerting pressure on the government.”

He said that anti-state and anti-religion elements had not abandoned their heinous agenda and were carrying out suicide attacks killing innocent people.

Mr Cheema said there would be no let-up in the campaign to root out extremism and terrorism which posed the gravest threat to national security.

He said the security set-up was fully geared to meeting the threat. “We appeal to all citizens to continue whole-hearted cooperation with the government to defeat terrorism and to ensure smooth and orderly transfer of power to the elected representatives and keep the country moving forward on the path of progress and a bright future.”

Responding to a question about the government’s reported offer to relax some restrictions on deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, the interior ministry spokesman replied: “The interior ministry learnt that the children of Mr Iftikhar Chaudhry wanted to attend their educational institutions. On this, the government allowed them to go out and attend their classes.”

He, however, said that although the government had allowed them to move outside the chief justice’s official residence, it was up to the family to decide whether to avail themselves of the facility.

But as far as anyone meeting them was concerned, he said, the local administration of Islamabad had forbidden it for law and order considerations.

The spokesman cleared an ambiguity about the arrest of one of the most wanted militant leaders, Qari Saifullah Akhtar, and said he was in the custody of Punjab police.

He said that due to some reasons the government had not made his arrest public. “But this is true that he has been arrested and is under interrogation,” he added.

He said that the Qari was currently on physical remand till March 7 and the government did not want to give undue publicity to a particular arrest because that could affect the investigation and chances of further arrests.

The arrest of Qari Saifullah is considered a ‘big catch’ but it is the first time that the government has officially declared that he was under custody.

About the efforts of the government to control narcotics, the spokesman said the United States Bureau of International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Affairs had in its annual report commended Pakistan’s efforts to move towards a poppy-free-country status.