ISLAMABAD, May 8: President Gen Pervez Musharraf held an emergency meeting with the National Security Council and heads of intelligence services here on Wednesday, and decided to take a string of measures, including seeking international support, to combat terrorism and tightening up security on the western borders.
It was decided to invite foreign experts to assist the local law-enforcement agencies in conducting the investigation of these acts of terrorism, Information Minister Nisar Memon told a press conference. Interior Secretary Tasneem Noorani and Information Secretary Anwer Mehmood were also present on the occasion.
French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie is arriving in Karachi on Thursday and a team of French investigators is also expected to arrive shortly, most probably with the defence minister, the information minister said.
Expressing fears that this attack may not be the end of terrorist activities in Pakistan, he said the security would be beefed up around hotels and key locations, particularly at the places where foreign nationals were staying.
The intelligence gathering network, he said, would also be expanded to preempt any future attack. The president, he added, had also desired to increase involvement of public in the government’s effort to combat terrorism.
He gave a toll-free telephone No. 0800-00786, which, he said, would be manned by senior civilian and military officials and asked the public to pass on information on it so that the terrorist activities could be checked.
The government, the minister added, had also created a website, www.geocities.com/wantedforterrorism, and people could also pass on information through this interactive web link.
The meeting decided to beef up and strengthen the country’s western border to reinforce vigilance against any infiltration from those borders. The meeting did not rule out the possibility of foreign hand from across the eastern borders from a country perpetually inimical to Pakistan, he said.
As regards to his fears about more attacks, he observed, the war against terrorism was still going on and there had been attacks on allied force in Afghanistan as well. The government, he added, did not want to be complacent as the terrorists could resurface anywhere and the lives of innocent people were at stake.
CHIRAC CONTACTED: President Musharraf made a telephonic call to President Jacques Chirac to regret the act of terrorism against the innocent French citizens and offered his deepest sorrow and condolences to the bereaved families, Memon said.
The president, he added, strongly condemned the dastardly act and observed that Pakistan was being subjected to a systematic campaign of killings for its bold and courageous stand against international terrorism.
President Musharraf noted in the meeting that the sole purpose of the enemies of Pakistan was to disrupt its economic recovery.
The president also spoke about the recent wave of killings in different cities of Pakistan which resulted in the death of Dr Nishat Malik, Mustafa Kamal Rizvi and principal Zafar Zaidi in Karachi and Dr Ghulam Murtaza Malik in Lahore on Tuesday night, besides many other innocent citizens, specially the doctors in Karachi.
He asked the citizens of Pakistan not to be demoralized by these dastardly acts which were designed to create a wedge between various sects and among communities and groups.
The minister said the president assured the citizens that they would now see massive efforts against the culprits, and also pointed to the actions already being taken to protect the innocent citizens from terrorism.
He further said that the president in his telephonic conversation with the French president reiterated Pakistan’s firm resolve to deal with the international terrorists trying to create a wedge between the two friendly countries.
President Musharraf, he said, asked the French government to assist in the investigation. Condemning it in the strongest terms, the president expressed his commitment to continue Pakistan’s fight against international terrorism, he added.
The president observed that by attacking the French citizens working on defence projects the terrorists had attempted to weaken Pakistan’s defence capabilities, the minister said.
President Chirac, he said, expressed his complete understanding and full support to the Pakistan government and described this as a terrible act against Pakistan. The president assured the French government of his resolve to provide full security cover to all French nationals as well as other foreigners in Pakistan, he added.
In response to a question about the possible suspects, Memon said there could be the involvement of terrorists from across the eastern or western borders.
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