KARACHI, April 26: The Sindh Governor, Mohammedmian Soomro, has said that the government would ensure effective representation of engineers and other technocrats at different forums.

Talking to a delegation of Institute of Engineers Pakistan, who called on him at the Governor’s House on Friday, he said that the government would take into consideration the suggestions put forward by the institute with regard to the seats reserved in the provincial assembly for technocrats.

The members of the delegation announced full support to President Gen Pervez Musharraf in the referendum and said that they would bring voters to the polling stations in their personal transport. They praised the policies of the present government.

The governor said that the holding of referendum would prove to be a milestone in the history of the country, as the President is seeking the opinion of the entire nation, instead of only a particular class.

Three other representative delegations of trade and industry, transport bodies and traders of the new vegetable market also called on the governor and announced full support to President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The trade and industry delegation consisted of office bearers of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the associations of other industrial estates.

The transporters assured the governor that public transport would continue to operate on April 30, and extended every possible cooperation to the government. They hoped that the President would announce an attractive package for Karachi in his public meeting on April 28.

Principal Secretary to the Sindh Governor, Akhtar Zamin; Secretary Information, Shahnaz Hamid; DCO Karachi, City Police Chief, DIG Police, Karachi; DIG Traffic and other officials were also present.

Meanwhile, prominent religious scholars of the city have called upon the nation to support President Gen Pervez Musharraf during the forthcoming referendum for a stronger Pakistan.

Scholars representing different schools of religious thought and sects, after their meeting with the Sindh Governor, said that the success of the President in the referendum is the only logical and safe way for restoration of democracy in the country.

Maulana Irshad-ul-Haq Thanvi, Maulana Asad Deobandi, Mufti Bashir Ahmed Naqshbandi, Mufti Aziz-ur-Rehman Qasmi, Mufti Ghulam Farid Chishti, Allama Dilbar Hasan Naqshbandi, Allama Syed Akhter Hussein, Maulana Mehmood Hussain, Mufti Mehmood Hussain and 85 other religious leaders were of the consensus opinion that the President should work for provincial autonomy guaranteed under the constitution.

It was further maintained that President Musharraf’s continuity in office will also be prerequisite to ensure continuation of social and financial reforms introduced by the present regime.

The leaders maintained that ground realities reveal the country to be exposed to external threats, enhancing the need for national solidarity, and therefore equal responsibility lies on all to discontinue with the policy of antagonism and pave the way for dialogue.—PPI/APP