The government would treat Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister, under the terms and conditions of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) 2007, by providing bullet-proof car and other security on her scheduled arrival at Karachi airport today (Thursday).
Addressing the weekly media briefing on law and order situation, Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier (Retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema, said on Wednesday that law enforcement agencies would treat the former Prime Minister in accordance with the recently promulgated National Reconciliation Ordinance upon her landing at the Karachi airport.
To a question about the security threat to the former Prime Minister, he said, the government is sensitised to these threats and would do whatever it could to prevent any untoward incident.
Cheema added that the government had already decided to impose a ban on carrying and brandishing weapons throughout the country with immediate effect, which he said would ensure holding of entire election process including pre-poll rallies in a peaceful manner. "The ban would also apply to licensed weapons for which the provincial governments have been directed to launch an immediate drive", he added.
Besides, the spokesman said that sixth three-day Saarc conference on cooperation in police matters is being held in New Delhi, India from October 23. Minister for Interior Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Secretary Interior Syed Kamal Shah would represent Pakistan, he added.
The conference, he said, would focus on institutionalising the mechanism for greater interaction to fight terrorism, organised crimes and money laundering in the region. He informed the mediamen that delegates from Saarc countries would discuss proposals to establish networking among police authorities of member states, consider matters relating to cooperation in the provision of required training, techniques and technology for police investigation and establishment of a regional institution.
In line with the commitment during the first meeting of Saarc countries Home/Interior ministers in Dhaka, meeting of focal points of Saarc Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk and Saarc Drug Offences Monitoring Desk would be held in Islamabad on October 20, he added.
He also informed about another bilateral meeting between delegates of Pakistan and India under the umbrella of Joint Anti- Terrorism Mechanism in India on October 22. The Joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism was institutionalised after the understanding reached between President Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the side-lines of Havana Conference held in Cuba in 2006.