ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: The government on Friday decided to convene a conference of all political parties for consultations on general elections.

This decision was taken after a special meeting of the cabinet presided over by Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro.

Briefing newsmen of decisions of the meeting, Mr Soomro said the government had decided to send invitation to all political leaders and also to contact them through other channels in the shortest possible time.

Official sources said the decision to convene the APC had been taken at a meeting presided over by President Pervez Musharraf soon after the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

The decision was formally approved by the cabinet.

He said the cabinet condemned the terror attack and decided to deal firmly with elements involved in arson and other acts of lawlessness.

In reply to a question, he said autopsy on Ms Bhutto’s body had been stopped at the request of Mr Asif Ali Zardari.

“It was an incident of terrorism and the government will soon expose the elements behind it after the completion of a judicial inquiry,” he said.

Information Minister Nisar Memon said the cabinet had resolved to continue its fight against terrorism in all its forms.The cabinet appreciated the positive role of Ms Bhutto’s family and top leadership of the PPP which appealed to party workers and supporters to remain calm.

The cabinet appealed to the people to remain peaceful and foil attempts by some elements to create law and order situation.