Punjab not to leave NWFP brethren alone in difficulty
LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said there is
complete unity in the people in the war for the survival of the
country and joint efforts will be made to counter the threat of
extremism.
“A handful of elements will not be allowed to impose their will at
gunpoint. The maintenance of law and order and supremacy of law will
have to be ensured otherwise all will be lost. People of Punjab will
not leave their brethren of NWFP unattended in the honour of need.”
He was talking to mediamen after handing over 140 trucks of relief
goods for the shelterless people of Malakand division to Chief
Minister NWFP, Amir Haider Khan Hoti on behalf of people of Punjab
at Risalpur Airbase, on Friday. Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab
Mohammad Aslam Khan Raisani was also present on the occasion who
gave a cheque of Rs 60 million to NWFP Chief Minister on behalf of
Balochistan government. President Pakistan Muslim League-N NWFP Pir
Sabir Shah, Central Vice President PML-N Saranjam Khan, General
Secretary Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Members National Assembly Muhammad
Hanif Abbasi, Abid Sher Ali, Provincial Minister for Prisons, Ch.
Abdul Ghafoor and local office bearers of Muslim League-N were also
present on the occasion.
Shahbaz Sharif said the activities of extremist elements were
bringing a bad name to the country as well as religion. He proposed
that a joint coordination committee of NWFP and Punjab governments
should be formed to evaluate the needs of affectees of Malakand on
daily basis and submit its report so that all possible assistance
could be extended.
The Chief Minister also offered that as the summer vacations in
educational institutions are forthcoming, arrangements could be made
for the stay of the displaced persons of Malakand in the educational
institutions of such districts in Punjab, which are at the borders
of NWFP. “Tandoors should be set up in the camps of the displaced
persons of Malakand and Punjab government will provide atta to NWFP
government for their needs,” he added
The Nation: Saturday May 16,2009
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