ISLAMABAD, April 17: Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik said on Thursday that the government would deal sternly with elements creating a law and order situation in Karachi.

“We have conveyed this to all forces in Karachi and urged them not to get involved in activities which can harm the peace of the city,” Mr Malik told mediapersons after inaugurating the Saarc Police Chief Conference.

He said Karachi was the country’s commercial hub and, therefore, its peace was imperative for economic growth of the country.

“The government will take stringent action against terrorists, extremists and miscreants and nobody will be allowed to disturb peace,” he added.

Responding to a question about assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the adviser said Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had decided to get the case reinvestigated under the auspices of the United Nations.

He said a draft had been prepared for requesting the UN probe.

Mr Malik said: “Benazir Bhutto wanted to see Pakistan a peaceful country and the PPP will transform her dream into reality by eliminating terrorism.”

Replying a question about a decision to regulate public meetings and rallies in the country, he said the government had not imposed any restriction on public rallies and procession but made a prior permission mandatory.

“Due to security reasons, the rallies and procession will be allowed at specific places, the law in this regard exists and we will re-enforce it,” he said.

Addressing the inaugural session of the conference, Mr Malik urged Saarc countries to work out a joint strategy to eradicate terrorism, drug smuggling and other trans-national crimes.

He sought help from the Saarc countries in investigating Ms Bhutto’s assassination case and sharing information they might have in this connection.

He said Saarc states had been facing a number of challenges like terrorism, extremism, poverty, organised crimes, drug trafficking, human smuggling and money laundering that had critical ramifications for the law-enforcement community.

He said Pakistan would play a positive and constructive role in bringing people closer and making this region secure, peaceful and prosperous.

“Politico-social reforms, economic opportunities and selective use of force against militants are going to be the main facets of our policy,” he said.

Mr Malik said the government kept on reviewing various provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 to make them more effective.

He stressed the need for increased cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan against the menace of terrorism.