KARACHI, Nov 8: Sindh Governor Muhammedmian Soomro on Thursday issued directives for taking all possible steps for maintaining peace and ensuring security of life and property of the people.

Talking to a group of transporters and businessmen at the Governor House here on Thursday, he made it plain that no one would be allowed to disrupt normal life.

Those who wish to convey their feelings should adopt a decent and legal recourse, he said, adding the government had imposed no restrictions, and places had been specified for holding public meetings. He told the participants of the meeting that every effort would be made to maintain normalcy and the government would provide protection to businessmen and transporters.

There could be no more better decisions what the government had taken under the prevailing conditions, he said.

Keeping in view the Indian behaviour and other conditions, the government had adopted the best possible line of action, he said. The traders said they would continue their normal business activities on Nov 9.

They said first we should pay attention to our own country. However, in this hour of trial, there was a need to extend all possible help to the Afghans. They told the governor that they would donate towards the President’s Relief Fund and play a due role in providing food, medicines, clothes and other necessities for the suffering humanity.

They viewed that strikes offer no solution to problems and a majority of people support the government’s policies. They said they don’t want to further add to the economic problems of the country.

They said they have no affiliation with any political or religious party and they too should not force them for a strike.

The transporters and businessmen said keeping in view the significance of Iqbal Day and Friday, they would continue their normal activities.

They said there would be normal activity at ports and movement of oil-tankers and other transport whereas shops and bazaars will also remain open.

They said they respect the religious leaders but strike was not in the interest of the country and the people.

The business representatives said no one can eliminate the country and religion of Islam. They said the country needs national unity more than ever before and they were fully with the government.

They said for quite some time, the people had been living a peaceful life in Karachi and other places of the province while in the past the people faced great problems.

The government, he said, was making efforts for eliminating unemployment, for revival of economy and for a quality life for the common man.

Sindh Minister Dewan Yousuf Farooqui said that the government had removed the restrictions on shop timings and the shop and labour inspectors had been stopped from carrying out inspections.

IGP Sindh Syed Kamal Shah told the delegations that special steps had been taken for providing security to the life and property of the people.

He said that an improved intelligence network and adoption of modern methods would greatly help identifying the elements involved in terrorism and arson. He said strict action would be taken against those torching vehicles or properties and steps would be taken for recovery of compensation from them on this count.

Those who met the governor included associations leaders Irshad Bukhari and Haji Muhammed Iqbal while associations of traders were led by the President of Jodia Bazar Traders Association.—APP