PM seeks consensus on polls day
By Saad Saud

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro Monday said any decision regarding any change in date of elections will be taken after detailed consultations with all concerned.
“The Election Commission is the primary institution to decide about the holding of elections on the announced date, based on assessment of the ground situation,” the Prime Minister said while chairing a meeting of the federal cabinet here. The Prime Minister said, “The poor people have suffered the most,” adding, “Security with public support must return soon. I am in consultation with different stakeholders and political parties. We must remain cool and keep national interest above all.”
The cabinet was briefed by the Caretaker Interior Minister on the law and order situation that erupted soon after the assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. The meeting was apprised that the situation has started improving after the deployment of troops.
However, the loss to public property and infrastructure has been colossal. The people have suffered a lot. Manufacturing, revenue, exports have all suffered badly. Loss to Railway has been huge where coaches & locomotives that were already short have been burnt.
The meeting was further informed that 22 locomotives were burnt completely while one locomotive was partially burnt as a result of fire, costing a loss of Rs. 1982 Million. The telecommunications losses of Railway on Sukkur and Karachi Divisions are approximately Rs. 884 Million while cost of losses to signaling system on Karachi and Sukkur Division are around Rs. 914 Million.
Cost of loss to 140 coaches which had been burnt completely and damage to 17 coaches are around Rs. 8000 Million. The total loss to Railway is Rs. 12382 Million. Supply of POL to all parts of the country and edibles have been affected. Telephone exchanges have been burnt. Election Commission offices have also been damaged.
The Prime Minister said, “Criminal elements took advantage of the tragedy by indulging in loot and plunder. They clearly attempted to disrupt the lifeline from South to North of Pakistan. The government moved in to stop the mayhem but unfortunately, a good deal of damage had been done. Pakistan has suffered, the people have suffered. We have to save Pakistan and we have to save the people from any further loss and damage. All decisions will be taken dispassionately with the interest of the country paramount,” the Prime Minister added.
The Cabinet expressed its resolve to fight the scourge of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and safeguard the life and property of the people. The Prime Minister directed the concerned federal and provincial authorities to take strict action against the miscreants.