ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: Army will be called out to assist local administration in maintaining law and order in major cities of Punjab during the countrywide strike on the call of religious parties on Friday.

This was stated by Nazims of seven major Punjab districts while speaking at a joint press conference at a local hotel here on Thursday.

Those who attended the press conference were Rawalpindi District Nazim Raja Tariq Kiani, Lahore Nazim Mian Amir Mehmood, Gujranwala Nazim Mohammad Fayyaz Chattha, Rahim Yar Khan Nazim Syed Ahmed Mehmood, Bahawalpur Nazim Tariq Bashir Cheema, Jhelum Nazim Chaudhry Farrukh Altaf and Sargodha Nazim Malik Amjad Ali Noon.

The Nazims said there was a provision in the law that district administration could call army for maintenance of law and order and peace.

They claimed that general public was supporting the government’s decision of joining international coalition in the fight against terrorism. “We are satisfied over the steps, taken by the government to advise the Afghan leadership about their obligations to the international community. It is unfortunate that they did not pay due heed to our calls and are now facing war,” they added. They said President General Pervez Musharraf had saved the country from isolation by supporting the US.

The Rawalpindi Nazim, however, urged the government to step up its efforts for stopping attacks on Afghanistan during the month of Ramazan.

Replying to a question, the Nazim said being a part of the government machinery, it was their duty to maintain law and order and convince people to keep themselves away from any kind of agitation that could harm national interests.

Mr Kiani said he had held talks with representatives of traders and transporters, who had assured him that they would not participate in the strike.

“We have taken adequate measures to safeguard lives and property of the people and maintain peace in our districts during the strike,” Tariq Kiani said. He said any one tried to create law and order situation, would be dealt with iron hands. “No one should think that he can challenge the government,” the Nazim said. The government, he said, would provide security to all those who wanted to do their business normally on Friday.

In response to a question regarding functioning of the district governments in the country, Mr Kiani said the elected representatives were trying to bring affairs of the districts in order. “Before establishment of district governments, we were following a 150-year-old system. Therefore, it will be difficult for the people to accept the new system at once,” he added.

The Punjab secretary information, culture and youth affairs, Taimoor Azmat Osman, and officials of various district administrations were also present on the occasion.

Soon after the press conference, some senior officials of the information ministry also reached the hotel.