September 04, 2008	Thursday	Ramazan 3, 1429

KARACHI, Sept 3: The government has decided to make all-out efforts to check the menace of extremism by crushing all anti-social elements to maintain peace and harmony in the province.

This decision was taken on Wednesday at a high-level meeting held at the Chief Minister’s House, which was presided over jointly by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik.

The meeting, which reviewed in detail the law and order situation prevailing in the province, with a particular reference to Karachi, decided to form a committee to monitor and supervise law and order situation.

Appreciating the role and services being rendered by the law-enforcing agencies including the armed forces and Rangers for the maintenance of peace in the province, the meeting also decided to set up an inter-provincial cell to keep an eye on activities of anti-state and anti-social elements and to work for national integration and harmony by removing misunderstandings among different communities.

The meeting reportedly held in the backdrop of requests by the business fraternity and investors for the maintenance of law and order, lauded the positive contribution of various communities and political groups for maintaining cohesion and harmony.

Assuring the continuation of a peaceful atmosphere and provision of maximum facilities for the promotion of business and trade activities, the meeting called on the investors to come forward to make investments in various sectors.

Those present at the meeting included Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, MQM leaders Dr Farooq Sattar, Babar Ghauri, Senator Hyder Abbas Rizvi, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, Hyderabad Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jameel, Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmad, Chief Secretary Fazlur Rehman, Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah, IGP Babar Khattak, CCPO Karachi Waseem Ahmed and representatives of law-enforcement agencies.

Later, it is learnt, Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, who is also Sindh PPP president, Zulfiqar Mirza, Rehman Malik and MQM leaders also discussed and finalised their strategy for the presidential election scheduled for Sept 6.

Meanwhile, talking to newsmen at a briefing at the Governor’s House, Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik said that due to the steps taken by the present government incidents of suicide bombings had declined by almost 98 per cent in Sindh and Punjab, APP adds.

Replying to a question as to why the law and order situation in Islamabad had not been controlled where even the prime minister’s motorcade came under attack, he said that such incidents could occur anywhere. In this regard, he particularly gave the example of the US where the law and order situation was much better as compared with other countries of the world.

He said except for a few incidents like the one at Wah, suicide bombings in the NWFP had declined by 80 per cent.

The adviser said that the prime minister's three-pronged policy envisaged dialogue with non-militants, initiation of uplift projects and use of force as a last resort, which the government had to make in the case of Bajaur as there was no other option left.

He said it was due to these measures that for the first time the militants were asking for a ceasefire, which the government had denied.

He said that the ongoing military operation had been suspended due to Ramazan.

Mr Malik said that despite all-out efforts the government could not provide half a million displaced persons from Bajaur with the comfort of home.

He informed the newsmen that of the 300,000 internally displaced persons currently residing in camps, 160,000 had already returned to their homes.

Speaking about the Balochistan issue, he said that it was due to the policy of the present government even the BLA had stopped its activities.

“We welcome them and even if they are Bugtis, Mazaris or Marris, they are all part of the country and we want all of them to work together.”—APP