Re: Who’s responsible for 18th Oct Bomb Blasts in Karachi - Govt, PPP, Jihadis!? (mer
hmm… This speaks alot about who is behind the attacks…
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Federal Minister for Interior Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao have categorically rejected PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s demand to engage foreign experts in the process of investigations in the October 18 suicide attacks in Karachi.
“We categorically reject it. Our own investigation teams and police officers are competent enough to investigate such cases,” Sherpao said while talking to journalists here on Monday.
“In the past, terrorist attacks have been carried out against the president, the prime minister and even against me — all of these incidents were later investigated by our own officials and we did not seek help of any foreign expert in those incidents nor do we want it now,” Aftab Sherpao said
He said the provincial government has been directed by the Interior Ministry to objectively investigate the case, which is a very serious incident. He called the attacks a tragedy that has left the entire nation in deep grief but at the same time made it clear that foreign experts would not be hired for probe into the suicide blasts.
“Pakistani security officials are capable of reaching the bottom of the case and it is not appropriate to talk about seeking foreign assistance to investigate this incident,” he added. “We should have trust in our officers, experts and the investigating teams. They would objectively investigate it. And, God willing, they will reach the culprits soon,” he said.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz too brushed aside the demand by the PPP chairperson for foreign assistance in the bomb blasts investigation. While talking to a group of federal ministers at the PM Secretariat, the prime minister expressed confidence in the expertise and efficiency of the law-enforcing agencies saying the investigation being carried out by local police and security officials would lead to the perpetrators.
“The tragic incident of October 18 in Karachi is being investigated and the culprits will be brought to book. We have witnessed incidents of similar nature in the past but our security agencies successfully investigated and arrested the perpetuators. They are fully capable of investigating such untoward incident themselves,” the prime minister added.
He emphasized the need for closer coordination between the law-enforcing agencies and the political parties so that appropriate security plans could be prepared which are to be strictly adhered to by all the parties.
The meeting also condoled the death of innocent persons who lost lives in the Karachi bomb blasts and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed souls in peace and give courage to the bereaved families to bear the loss.
Meanwhile, the interior minister responding to a question in his talk with journalists said that no arrest has so far been made which might have any direct link with this case. Regarding the proposal to impose a ban on political activities, put forth by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the interior minister said with regard to the political activities the government has adopted a code of conduct. “We do want a ban on the processions and rallies. However, we do not want to impose ban on public meetings. So, for this purpose a place should be specified because amidst the prevailing circumstances our top concern is the protection of life and public property,” he said.
“We want to protect workers and leaders of political parties. There should be a specific place for holding public meetings. And provincial governments and district administrations should be informed to make appropriate security arrangements,” he added.
To a question as to when such a ban is likely to be imposed on processions and rallies, the interior minister said that the federal government has asked the provincial governments to discuss this issue with the political leadership as well the matter will be taken up here in Islamabad as well.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in his meeting with federal ministers said that PML and its coalition partners were confident of their success in the upcoming elections due to their performance and quality of candidates. He said that PML its allies believed in transparency and good governance to bring about a change in the life of the people.
He said the continuity and consistency of reforms policies introduced by the government would improve the standard of living of the people, by creating greater job opportunities and enhancing economic activities. The prime minister while highlighting the development and prosperity brought about in the rural areas of the country said that the infra structural development and provision of basis facilities, like education, health, electricity and clean drinking water in the rural areas have been at historic level.
The meeting also discussed the need for proper code of conduct for the political activities before, during and after the upcoming elections. The meeting was attended by the Minister for Food and Agricultural, Sikandar Hayat Bosan, Minister for Environment, Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghouri, Minister for Science and Technology Ch Nouaiz Shakoor, Minister for Privatization Commission, Wasi Zafar, Minister for Communication, Shamim Siddiqui and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Tariq Javed.