KARACHI, March 31: Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad and Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim said that anyone found indulged in causing damage to public properties on Saturday (April 2) would be dealt with ‘iron hands’.

They, however, clarified that no shoot-at-sight orders had been issued to the law-enforcement agencies.

They were speaking at a press briefing on Thursday at the Governor’s House where Sindh Minister for Industries and Transport Adil Siddiqui was also present and he repeated his statement that those found involved in arson and harassing people would be shot at.

Dr Ibad and Dr Arbab told journalists after a high-level meeting at the Governor’s House that people were against observing any strike. In this context, they referred to the delegations of traders, transporters and people from a cross section of society that called on them on Thursday and asked them to establish the government’s writ.

“The government is taking strict measures to protect citizens’ life and property as masses are not part of these protests which are being staged without any solid reasons,” the governor said, adding that the government was in no way over-reacting to the strike call given by the MMA.

He maintained that the law-enforcement agencies had not been given shoot-at-sight order, but ‘pre-emptive arrest’ of MMA leaders and workers was on the cards.

Dr Ibad said government was not expecting public participation in the MMA strike on Saturday as the strike on Thursday on the appeal of Ponam also remained unsuccessful. People continued their routine activities as usual on Thursday without any fear, he pointed out.

In reply to a question, the governor said that the strikes observed on the appeal of his party, were justified as extra-judicial killings had become a routine in those days and people were asking the party leadership to give strike calls.

“But the situation these days is different. Economic activities are gaining momentum, law and order situation is exemplary, and people have no fears,” he added.

Replying to another question, he said the government had no problem with MMA’s strike as their ‘million march’ had also received poor response. However, in order to ensure protection to public property, all administrative measures were being taken, he said.

The chief minister told journalists that the opposition was free to do whatever it wanted for recording their protest. “Even, they danced on tables in the assemblies,” he said, and warned: “Causing damage to public properties on the pretext of observing strikes would not be tolerated.”

He reiterated that in spite of security measures being taken for the April 2 strike, if public property was damaged, the government would compensate the same.

Dr Arbab told a questioner that the government was not over-reacting to the MMA strike call. He maintained that the measures being taken were natural and justified as the government considered itself custodian of citizens.

Commenting on rising inflation, he said people did have buying power which was evident from the fact that markets were full of essential and other commodities.

Provincial ministers Rauf Siddiqui and Adil Siddiqui, Adviser on Local Bodies Waseem Akhtar, Chief Secretary Mohammad Aslam Sanjrani, Information Secretary Ms Mehtab Akbar Rashidi and senior police officials were also present on the occasion.

VISIT: Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim visited various market areas in the city for the second consecutive second, Thursday, and assured people compensation would be paid to those suffering any loss during the strike.

He also announced that arms licences would be given to shopkeepers on the recommendation of their trade bodies.

He asked the CCPO to ensure arrest of anyone found forcing traders to observe strike. Warning political activists against subjecting any citizen to threats, the chief minister declared that such acts would not be tolerated.

Regarding the situation in the city amid strike call by an alliance of nationalist parties for Thursday, he observed that shops in a few areas remained closed with regard to the observance of Chehlum. “People rejected the strike call,” he said, adding: “Almighty Allah and masses are with the government.”

Talking to leaders of various trade bodies during his visit, he said that a businessman-friendly government was ruling the country now and due to its positive policies, the flow of investment had increased. “Like the former prime minister of Malaysia, Dr Mahathir Mohammad, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also wants prosperity of the country, and effects of his revolutionary polices are already being felt,” he remarked.

Dr Arbab said that in the presence of assemblies and senate, there was no logic for the opposition to adopt the path of protests and strikes. He said that beside industrial progress, bumper crops of wheat, rice and cotton were expected this year. However, he added, the opposition, especially the MMA, wanted to “snatch last bite of food from the mouths of masses.”

Dr Arbab, during his tour of the Sindh Muslim Housing Society, Nursery, Civic Centre, Hyderi, Tariq Road, etc., assured traders that the government would provide them full security and resolve their genuine problems.

He issued orders for improvement work on Tariq Road and adjoining streets as well as upgrading of the police post there.

He also directed the KESC MD to stop load-shedding in this area. The chief minister also asked the KESC MD to ensure repair of all streetlights in Tariq Road area by Friday.

He asked the chief secretary to issue arms licences to traders.—PPI