Gilani announces meeting to devise strategy against terror

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said that the operation in Punjab is a provincial matter.

LAHORE: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani announced that he would convene a high-level meeting of law enforcement agencies on Monday to devise a strategy to stop terror attacks. He said the investigation report of the attacks on the shrine will be made public after it is completed.

Gilani also said  that the operation in Punjab is a provincial matter and that Interior Minister Rehman Malik had never used the term Punjabi Taliban.

Gilani was speaking to the media outside Ganga Ram Hospital, where he had gone to inquire after the victims of Thursday’s suicide attack. His statement came after Chief Minister Shabaz Sharif rejected the notion of Punjabi Taliban and accused Malik of coining the term.

The Prime Minister said terrorism is the biggest problem facing the country and all forces will have to work together to curb militancy. He urged anyone having credible information about the presence of terrorists to pass it on to the Punjab government.

Politicians express criticism against Punjab government

Earlier today politicians criticised the Punjab government for showing negligence in security arrangements.

Federal Law Minister Babar Awan said the Punjab government should not let Lahore turn into another Baghdad.

While speaking to the media at Patoki, Awan urged the Punjab government to stay focused on countering and stopping suicide attacks in the province.

However, Awan is not the first PPP leader to criticise the PML-N following the attacks on Data Darbar.

Earlier on Friday, Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer said Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was responsible for the poor security arrangements at the Data Darbar.

PPP and PML-N workers also had a verbal clash during PPP Information Secretary Fauzia Wahab’s visit to Data Darbar on Saturday.

Talking to the media, Fauzia Wahab said terrorists will not be allowed to destroy the peace of Lahore. She also said all parties must work together to overcome the menace of terrorism.

Meanwhile PML-N supporters present at the shrine chanted anti-PPP slogans and repeatedly interrupted Wahab’s speech.

PPP supporters also reacted with slogans against the Punjab government.

PML-Q leader Pervez Elahi also said the Punjab government is failing in managing the affairs of the province. He was speaking to media at the Data Darbar.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif rejected the notion of Punjabi Taliban and also shrugged off criticism on the Punjab government of providing poor security.