LAHORE, Jan 17: Terming the terrorist attack at the Lahore airport a minor event, Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool said on Thursday efforts were being made to identify the elements behind it.

He was talking to newsmen at the airport after seeing off the first batch of intending hajis from Lahore.

He said special directions had been given to the law enforcement agencies to adopt relevant measures in case of any terrorist activity anywhere in the Punjab.

“The people of Pakistan are strong, fearless and not afraid of small events,” the governor said, and added that all accused in the major terrorist acts in Jhang, Sialkot, Muridke, Faisalabad and Lahore had been arrested.

About the decisions taken by the federal government on Wednesday, he said the number of seats in assemblies had been enhanced in view of the increase in population whose full representation was necessary in parliament.

This step would strengthen democracy in the country, he said.

The governor said the fixation of a bachelor’s degree as the minimum qualification for the candidates to assemblies would allow the educated people to become legislators, giving benefit to the nation and democracy.

He said the steps taken by the government after the events on September 11, the president’s address to the nation and the constitutional amendments would give positive results which could not be achieved during the past 52 years.

Regarding the chances of declaring bordering villages as calamity hit areas, the governor said the government was considering to provide relief to the people displaced owing to the troops deployment.

He said the chief secretary had been asked to prepare a proposal whereby the federal government would be requested to provide relief to the people in the ADBP loans and water and power charges. The provincial government would also provide the relief, he said.

Earlier, speaking to the first batch of 433 pilgrims at the airport the governor urged them to keep in mind during the performance of haj that they were part of ummat and representing it during the holy journey.

They must also keep in mind that they were the citizens of Pakistan. “While praying for yourself do not forget to pray for the safety and progress of Pakistan. You must also remember that there may be some difficulties in the holy journey but accept them as a part of the blessings which Allah has showered on you,” he said. Haj Director Muhammad Farogh Aftab thanked the provincial government for providing all facilities for the intending hajis. He said 120,000 Pakistanis would perform haj this year and out of them 33,000 would proceed to Saudi Arabia through 67 PIA and nine Saudi Airlines flights from Lahore.

The last haj flight will operate on February 16, he said.

Mr Aftab said haji camps in Lahore had been organized in various buildings and places during the past 10 years. The existing one was set up in a dilapidated building of the evacuee property trust board which was too small to accommodate the pilgrims.

He requested the provincial government to arrange for a permanent haji camp in Lahore, saying such camps already existed in Islamabad and Karachi while new ones were being built in Quetta, Peshawar and Sukkur.

Civil Aviation Authority Deputy Director-General Air Vice-Marshal Arshad Rashid Sethi also spoke on the occasion.

Later, the governor shook hands with the intending hajis and saw them off. They left for Jeddah in the evening through a PIA flight.