LAHORE, March 2: Governor Khalid Maqbool reiterated on Saturday his government resolve to combat terrorism.

“The drive (against terrorists) would be extend to their hideouts and patrons,” he told a meeting of the provincial Ittehad Bainul Muslemeen Committee here at the Civil Secretariat. It was attended by ulema and religious leaders from all schools of thought.

He said the government had joined the drive against terrorism in national interest and not under any foreign pressure.

Citing the Rawalpindi mosque attack, the governor told the audience that he had directed the IG to take it as a test case. He urged ulema to shift their peace efforts to tehsil level and snub any voice of hatred. “Sectarianism stems from utterances and writings of hatred which the government would not allow.” The governor said the government would continue to pursue the deweaponization campaign.

He said he was going to announce his telephone numbers and those of the IGP and the chief secretary so that people could directly give them information about illicit weapons.

He said measures would be taken to ensure peace during Muharram and full protection would be given to the people and ulema during Majalis and other related activities.

Maqbool said the government would actively pursue the cases against terrorists so that they were duly punished. He told the meeting that of the arrested activists of jihadi outfits, 158 had been released.

He said the government would sponsor ulema tours to promote peace.

He said the government would consider the idea of issuing arms licences to the administration of religious seminaries and places of worships. .

Earlier, an 11-point code of ethics was adopted during the meeting which condemned terrorism and those groups and organizations which were involved in it. It assured the government allout support in taking measures against terrorists.

It disallowed distribution of objectionable material or delivery of such speeches during Muharram and urged ulema of all sects to promote tolerance and brotherhood during the month. The code condemned Rawalpindi incident and urged the government to immediately arrest the culprits. The participants also gave proposals regarding inter-communal peace and pointed out flaws in government policies.