QUETTA, Nov 10: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has stressed the need for joint efforts to ensure peace during Muharram and urged ulema of different schools of thought to support the government in this regard.

Mr Malik said the government was ready to introduce laws, if needed, to ensure harmony among different sects. He was speaking at a meeting held here on Sunday to review law and order situation in Quetta and other parts of the province.

Ulema belonging to Shia and Sunni sects, leaders of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl and Jamaat-i-Islami, Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad, Home Secretary Asad Gilani, IG Mushtaq Sukhera and senior officials of the Frontier Corps attended the meeting which discussed various suggestions and made decisions for maintaining law and order during Muharram.The chief minister said he himself would monitor the law and order situation in the province. He said a people’s representative government was working in the province and it would not betray people. “We will take people on board on all issues and will resolve their problems through consultation.”

He said the government wanted an end to bloodshed caused by tribal, political and sectarian feuds.

Mr Baloch expressed the hope that the coalition government would succeed in resolving political issues and other problems with the help of political forces and people who had been suffering because of the situation prevailing in the province.

Dr Baloch said that the face of Quetta could change and it could be turned into a beautiful city if funds being spent on maintaining law and order were diverted to development projects.