President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday condemned the recent terrorist attacks and suicide bombings in the country and expressed their resolve to take Pakistan forward on the path of progress and prosperity. In a meeting held at the president camp office to review the law and order situation in the country, particularly the situation in the NWFP and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, the two leaders said they would take Pakistan ahead “undeterred by those who wish to create chaos and fear in the country through wanton and indiscriminate acts of terrorism”.
Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, NWFP Governor Lt Gen (r) Ali Muhammad Jan Orakzai, NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani and Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ahsan Saleem Hyat were also present at the meeting.
The NWFP chief minister briefed the participants about the measures being taken by the provincial government to contain terrorism. The measures include convening of jirgas and peace committees to preempt and discourage militancy and extremism.
The president and the prime minister assured full support to the provincial government in the efforts to achieve peace in the area and appealed to the religious parties, clerics and the Wafaqul Madaris to assist the government in this regard.
In another meeting attended by Federal Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Amanullah Jadoon, Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Ghulam Rahim, State Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Naseer Mengal and Sindh Minister for Mines and Minerals Irfanullah Marwat, President Musharraf urged the importance of developing the Thar coalfields for the benefit of the country, especially Sindh.
He said that Thar coal would not only be a major contributor to power generation, energy security and import substitution for Pakistan, but would also contribute towards economic development of the rural and under-developed areas of Sindh.