KARACHI, Oct 31: Adviser to the Chief Minister on Home Affairs Wasim Akhtar on Wednesday observed that Sindh, like other provinces, was facing the threat of terrorism, and said the government was taking steps to deal with the situation.

Addressing a ceremony for the inauguration of the Crime Monitoring Centre, set up at the office of the F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry, he said although the overall law and order situation in the province was satisfactory, the threat of terrorist attacks, particularly on PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto, was still there.

It was in the backdrop of these threats that the PPP had been advised to avoid holding big public rallies, he added.

The adviser recalled that the federal intelligence agencies had forewarned the PPP leadership of a possible terrorist attack on Oct 18 and advised it to revise its decision to go for an 18-hour rally. However, he said, the advice was not accepted.

He said six police officials lost their lives and 30 others sustained injuries in the twin blasts. The casualties might have been much higher had the police officials and their vehicles not been there as a shield to protect the rally participants. Asked about the progress in the probe into the tragedy, he said agencies were conducting the investigation but “there has been no development so far.”

He said it was not possible to prevent a suicide attack and what the government could do was to take preventive measures.

He pointed out that eight out of nine suicide attacks committed in Sindh had been resolved and culprits arrested.—PPI