GILGIT, July 24: Government employees in the Northern Areas have been warned of stern action if they are found dabbling in sectarian politics. At a high-level meeting chaired by the federal secretary for the Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas, Rasul Bux Baloch, affirmed that government employees taking part in local and sectarian politics would be dismissed.

The meeting, which was attended by Chief Secretary Nadeem Manzoor, IGP Sarmad Saeed Khan, Home Secretary Hafizur Rahman and DIG Farman Ali, resolved that if the government servants were eager to politicize their positions, they should better leave their jobs and join political parties.

The meeting held that the tragic incident in which a passenger bus was ambushed was not sectarian motivated. It was an attempt of terrorism, it said.

The meeting said that officials were holding meetings with public representatives and members of the Northern Areas Legislative Council to work out a durable plan to curb extremism and control the law and order situation.

ARRESTS: Law-enforcement agencies have detained 43 activists of different religious parties for their alleged involvement in the last Sunday sectarian violence.