Foreign observers and journalists: provinces directed to ensure security

The Centre has directed the provinces to ensure foolproof security to the foreign observers and journalists during elections keeping in view the recent spate of violence.
Talking to media after a high level meeting, the caretaker Minister for Interior Lieutenant General Hamid Nawaz Khan (Retd) on Wednesday said that the government would provide foolproof security to foreign observers for which Prime Minister Mohammadmian Soomro has directed the concerned Ministries, Chief Secretaries, Home Secretaries, Inspector Generals Police, Heads of Rangers and FC to provide maximum security to the foreign observers.
The observers, he said, would be taken to each and every constituency for coverage of general elections except some sensitive areas in Swat, Fata, Kurram Agency, Sindh and Balochistan. Besides, he said, a conduct guard would also be provided to observers for their security. The Minister said that nobody would be allowed to take law in hand or to disturb peace during elections and such elements would be dealt with iron hands.
Hamid said the government made foolproof security arrangements during Aashura (Muharram) where thousands of the mourning processions were carried out from different parts of the country. Similar measures would also be ensured during elections to avert any untoward incident, he said.
The Minister said that the Ministry has taken work on purchasing scanners and other equipment for detection of explosives materials and suicide bomber, adding that many firms have submitted their expression of interests and soon they would be invited for presentation.
These would be installed on Pakistan-Afghanistan borders, entry and exist, points of major cities and all provinces, he said. The Minister claimed that the government has broken the back of militants in Waziristan, Fata and Swat. He said operation against militants in Swat has been completed and security agencies are jointly taking action consist in separate areas.
The government in collaboration of a Jirga, to be comprised of influential and local people from Fata and Frontier, would soon take measures for sustainable peace in the tribal areas, Hamid said. About Scotland Yard team, he said they would arrive this week and would finalise their report in collaboration with Pakistani investigation teams, which would later be made public.
About recent suicide attacks in R A Bazaar, the Minister said, "we know the perpetrators behind these heinous attacks and many have been arrested and under investigation." He said the security agencies are preparing cases against them to present them before courts. The Minister urged the media-persons to be responsible while filing report as false and sensational reporting create adverse impact.