LARKANA, Dec 2: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said on Tuesday that the government would convene an all-party conference in a couple of days on situation in Karachi and almost all the political parties had assured of their support to its handling of law and order problems.

Talking to journalists in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh Bhutto on Tuesday, the chief minister said that the designs of anti-democratic elements, which were out to destabilise the democratic government, would be foiled.

He expressed concern over sporadic killings in Karachi and said that so far 350 armed people had been arrested. He hinted at increasing police force and equipping it with latest weapons. The government was effectively facing challenges on economic and law and order fronts, he added.

To a question about procurement of paddy by Passco, he said that Passco had been directed strictly to ensure purchase of paddy at the support price of Rs700 per 40 kilograms.

He said that he would soon hold a meeting with Passco and urged mill owners to come forward and assist local administration.

Earlier, the chief minister presided over a meeting of Shaheed Bhutto Mazar Committee in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh and reviewed ongoing development work at the shrine.

The secretary of works and services Muhktiar Soomro and other officers’ concerned briefed him on the work.

Mr Shah asked the officers to complete work by Dec 20 before the first death anniversary of the slain leader Ms Benazir Bhutto on Dec 27 and directed the administration to make fool-proof security arrangements on the day to avoid any untoward incident.

Sindh Minister for Local Bodies Agha Siraj Durrani briefed the meeting on the security plan and formed various committees and assigned them duties.

Asghar Shaikh, information secretary of the Larkana chapter of PPP, said that the first death anniversary would start at 9 am with Quran Khwani followed by mushaira and papers. It would continue till 5 pm, he said.

Sindh Law minister Ayaz Soomro, MNA Aftab Shaban Mirani, regional police officer, DCO, DPO and the presidents of the party’s sister organisations attended the meeting.

The chief minister went to the residence of former MNA Khalid Iqbal Memon and offered him condolence on the death of his father Nizamuddin Memon. He later flew back to Karachi.