President, PM discuss, political law & order situation
By Our Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—President Pervez Musharraf reiterating his commitment to ensuring democracy in the country has emphasized on ensuring law and order so that the people can exercise their right to vote without fear. He said this while talking to caretaker Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro here at Aiwan-e-Saddar on Tuesday.
During the meeting, various issues related to upcoming elections, mutual interest, Political situation, law and order situation of the country were discussed, sources told. We would get out from the crisis erupted after the murder of Former Primer Benazir Bhutto in Rawalpindi, he said, adding that, there would be no comprise over preservations of public life and property.
The holding of elections in fair, free and transparent manner is not sufficient but these must be held in peaceful environment sothat people use their right to cast vote without any fear, the President pointed out. He directed caretaker setup to utilize all available resources for maintaining law and order in the country, as it is top priority of caretaker setup. It is a positive omen that the situation was returning towards normalcy in different areas of Sindh followed by deployment of rangers.
The caretaker Prime Minister took the President into confidence over his meeting and negotiations with leaders of various Political Parties, sources told Online. The President and Caretaker Prime Minister appreciated the decision of Election Commission that it would take final decision whether or not to extend the date of elections after consultations with Political Parties.
Both the President and caretaker Prime Minister urged election commission to take decision about elections keeping in view the ground realities of the country. The President was briefed about the directives issued to Provincial authorities for maintenance of law and order and point of view of members of caretaker cabinet upon elections.
Meanwhile, Caretaker Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz has said that the Interior Ministry has made all its arrangements to ensure law and order in the country if elections are to be held on January 8. Talking to a private TV Channel, the Caretaker Interior Minister, however emphasized that the Interior Ministry should be informed three days before the holding of elections aimed to get time to provide security equipments to the polling stations.
He pointed out that there are some far-flung areas where only camels use to provide security equipments to the polling stations. Commenting on carrying out the investigations by the foreign experts on Benazir assassination, Hamid Nawaz said that the Interior Ministry has no objections in this regard, however, he mentioned that our investigation agencies have the ability to carry out the investigation effectively.
The Interior Minister further said that Pakistani experts also provided assistance to the foreign countries on several important cases. He said that if services of the foreign experts are needed to ensure the credibility of the investigation then its Government’s own decision and the Interior Minister has no objections whatsoever in this regard.