RAWALPINDI, May 11: The government is taking every possible step to maintain law and order in the country, the Punjab law minister, Rana Ijaz Ahmad, said.

He was speaking at a function arranged in his honour by a social forum.

The minister said the government would not allow anyone to take law in his hands. He said the country’s image had improved due to the government’s concrete policies. “The environment is investor-friendly due to our liberal and realistic policies,” he added.

He said Gen Pervez Musharraf’s success in the referendum had ensured continuity of government’s reforms in different sectors. The government, he added, had great respect for all segments of the society, especially the intelligentsia, lawyers, press and women.

Those who attended the function included ambassadors of Palestine, Iraq, Libya, Uzbekistan, Kazakhzstan, South Africa, Syria, Nepal and Nigeria, besides PML(QA) leaders.