KARACHI, Feb 18: The positive implications of Islamization process, currently under way in the NWFP, would certainly be felt in Punjab and Sindh and would be irresistible.

This was stated by Sirajul Haq, senior minister in the NWFP cabinet, while briefing a group of senior journalists at a local hotel here on Tuesday.

He recounted the measures taken by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government for the transformation of society in accordance with the Islamic teaching. He said that a 19-member Islami Shariat Enforcement Council has already been set up to recommend measures for the phased enforcement of Islamic laws and the gradual transformation.

The minister pointed out that as a first step, the government had written off interest on the loans extended to the general public by cooperative societies. The move, he added, would benefit more than 30,000 families.

The NWFP government has also closed cinema houses and banned cable TV networks besides banishing the VIP culture in the province.

“All these measures are within the precincts of the Constitution... we are not imposing our will on the people but moving in the right direction by taking the opposition into confidence for the enforcement of Sharia rule,” he declared.

Dispelling rumour circulating in political quarters, Mr Haq categorically stated: “Neither Mulla Omar, nor Osama Bin Laden, nor any Al Qaeda man is hiding in the province. It doesn’t matter whether they are alive or dead, what matters is that how many people are still committed to the mission.”

He blamed media for the scare prevailing among the peaceful citizens and for the launching of the operation which, he said, was not in the interest of the people.

To a question about the FBI operation in the NWFP, he said that the question itself was illogical. He said any operation conducted by a foreign agency in a country, was an insult to the sovereignty of that country.