President, PM for firm action against rioters
Staff Report

RAWALPINDI—President Pervez\ Musharraf and Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro, taking strong exception to the ongoing spiral of violence in the guise of protests, directed the authorities Saturday to deal with miscreants firmly and take action under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The President, who co-chaired a meeting with the caretaker Prime Minister, reviewed the law and order in the country.
The President said the sympathies of the entire nation were with the bereaved family, leadership and workers of the Pakistan People’s Party in their hour of grief. He said while the entire nation was in mourning over the tragic death of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, miscreants and anti-social elements cannot be allowed to damage lives and property of the common man in the guise of protest. The meeting here at the President’s Camp Office was attended by Minister for Information Nisar A Memon, Interior Hamid Nawaz Khan, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, heads of security agencies and other concerned officials. President Musharraf said that elements who wish to exploit the situation by looting and plundering must be dealt with firmly and all measures be taken to ensure safety and security of the people.
He particularly mentioned the problems being faced by people as the chemists, bakeries, grocery stores and petrol and CNG pumps have been closed due to the fear of the hooligans and looters. The President directed the law enforcement agencies to ensure early return to normalcy so that the sufferings of the common man are addressed.
The President said burning and looting of property and businesses of the common man would render many jobless and create serious problems for their families and cannot be allowed. The participants were briefed about the prevailing law and order situation in all the provinces, particularly Sindh, where the army has been called in the aid of civil power. The meeting was also given an update on the pace of investigation into the terrorist attack on Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto on Dec 27. Following the meeting, the caretaker Prime Minister directed the Interior minister and the Chief Ministers to deal with the hooligans strictly and to take action, wherever warranted, under the Anti- Terrorism Act. He said some “rogue elements” were exploiting the situation and taking law into their own hands by damaging public and private property by indulging in arson, looting and ransacking. The Prime Minister directed the law enforcement
agencies to deal with such elements with an iron hand, to restore peace in the country. He directed the Chief Ministers to personally monitor the situation and ensure there was no leniency to the elements who were out to disturb public peace.