ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Tuesday that the security of people’s lives and property was the government’s top most priority, DawnNews reported.

Speaking to media representatives in Islamabad, the interior minister said that the government was taking concrete steps to improve law and order situation in the country.

Speaking on the issue of security during the month of Muharram, he said that all law enforcement agencies, including the police, were on high alert during the month.

He said that an effective policy has been devised to provide security to the religious gatherings and processions.

Interior Minister Malik had earlier imposed a ban on the use of motorcycles in Karachi and Quetta on the first day of Muharram to prevent a ‘possible terrorist attack’ which was later overturned by Sindh High Court. Cellular services were also suspended in these cities the same day.

The ban was widely criticised by media persons, civil society and the public in general. However, responding to a petition moved by the Sindh home ministry, the SHC allowed a partial bike ban on public holidays or in selective areas of the city especially near Imambargahs.

Speaking about the law and order situation in restive Balochistan province, the interior minister said: “Not the Army but the Frontier Corps (FC) was deployed in Sui area of Balochistan,” Malik said while speaking on the security situation of Balochistan.

Moreover, he claimed that the banned nationalist parties, such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and  Baloch Republican Army (BRA) , were involved in planting roadside bombs and landmines in the Sui area.

Answering a question, the interior minister said that around 60,000 non-custom-paid vehicles have been identified in the country.