SHEIKHUPURA, Jan 11: Reacting over the GPO Chowk bombing in Lahore on Thursday, social, religious and political circles here expressed on Friday their concern over deteriorating law and order in the country.

Pakistan People’s Party candidate for NA-135 Rai Ijaz Ahmed pointed the finger at President Pervez Musharraf for widespread bombings in the country, saying his flawed policies had bred terrorism. He said Musharraf’s tenure was full of illegal acts, including his own election and the imposition of a state of emergency on Nov 3. He said Musharraf’s wrongdoings were behind the prevailing law and order situation. He said the situation could only be improved if the president stepped down. Criticising the shortage of flour, unscheduled loadshedding, he said the King’s Party was responsible for the chaos as they had smuggled wheat to other countries to earn wealth.

Social worker Malik Manzoor said unscheduled loadshedding and the suspension of gas had shut down hundreds of industries in the district leaving thousands of labourers jobless.

Religious leader Mufti Ashraf Qadri said the killing of Baloch nationalist Nawab Akbar Bugti, military operations in Balochistan, Waziristan and Swat were major contributors to increasing terrorism. The assassination of Benazir Bhutto was the outcome of the wrongdoings of US-backed Musharraf.

He demanded the international community pressure Mr Musharraf to quit the government to save the integrity and solidarity of the country.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate for NA-133 Javed Latif said President Musharraf had become a security risk for the country. He demanded the assassination of Ms Bhutto be probed by the UN investigators.