KARACHI, March 9: The objective behind the killings of doctors is to spoil the improving investment environment.

This was said by Sindh governor Mohammedmian Soomro while addressing the members of the Pakistan Medical Association at the PMA House here.

He said that after a long time the law and order situation in the province had improved and investors at home and abroad had started showing practical interest in the schemes of economic revival and investment. The objective of the anti-state elements was to sabotage that conducive environment.

He said that security of the lives and property of the people was the foremost responsibility of the government and it was not oblivious of that responsibility.

Expressing grief over the killing of Dr Aale Safdar Zaidi and others, he said that all the resources were being utilised for the arrest of the elements involved in those acts and the identification of their patrons.

Disagreeing with the suggestions from some members of the PMA that the government should guide the publication of news items of certain sort by newspapers, he said that the government would not put any restrictions on the freedom of expression.

Earlier the office-bearers and members of the PMA expressed concern over the killings of doctors. The were of the view that the killings did not have a sectarian background.

Chief secretary Javed Ashraf Hussain, home secretary Mukhtar Ahmed and city police chief, Asad Jehangir, were also present on the occasion.

Later the governor visited the residence of the slain doctor Aale Safdar Zaidi and offered his condolences to the bereaved family. He assured them that the killers of Dr Zaidi would be apprehended soon and instructed the police officials present there to further improve the security measures.

The governor also expressed grief over the killing of Dr Muzaffar Sammo of the Lyari Hospital and directed the officials concerned to make concerted efforts to the arrest the killers.

President thanked: The governor has thanked President General Pervez Musharraf for taking special interest in rehabilitating Sindh’s irrigation system on modern lines and provision of funds in this regard.

The President, during a meeting at the governor’s house on Friday, had issued orders for the release of Rs10 billion for better irrigation system in Sindh.

The governor said that under the present conditions when 35 per cent of the available irrigation water went waste because of defects in the irrigation system, the decision taken by the President was of great significance.

He said that steps would be taken for canal lining, use of modern techniques and just distribution of water.

He said that a number of measures had been initiated and mega projects launched on the President’s directive for the welfare of the people of Sindh.

He observed that the Reni Canal, the RBOD, the K-III Water Supply Scheme, the Lyari Expressway, the Northern Bypass, and other projects would prove a milestone for the prosperity of the common man and the progress of the province.

Governor Soomro said the President’s announcement regarding the installation of the telemetry system in the Indus Irrigation System was a welcome step.—APP\PPI