ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Monday said the Karachi Ashura blast was not a suicide attack. He said the federal government has constituted a committee to investigate the arson attacks in Karachi.

The interior minister, after chairing a high level meeting at the interior ministry in Islamabad, announced the government’s decision to constitute a committee to investigate the issue. The committee will be headed by the ministry’s Additional Secretary Asif Nawaz.

Arson and rioting, which followed the Ashura procession blast, caused losses worth billions of rupees to the government and the private sector.

He said that the government had instructed law enforcement agencies to patrol the streets of Karachi. Rangers and Police will jointly conduct patrolling operations in the city, said Malik.

The interior minister also said that the government will not tolerate target killings anywhere in the country. — DawnNews

However, he said “our desire for peace must not be taken as a sign of weakness and our armed forces are ready to meet all challenges”.

He said “we have full faith in our armed forces and the people to defend our country”.

The President said “our armed forces are ready to meet all the challenges and guard against all external and internal threats”.

He stated it was every Pakistani’s duty to fight against external and internal enemies who disrupt the country’s peace and progress.

Zardari also pointed out that the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) would not disappoint the nation.

The president, at the occasion, emphasised that a strong navy was necessary to meet any challenge to Pakistan’s maritime security.

He said the recent induction of PNS Zulfiqar and helicopters was intended to strengthen the country’s naval fleet.

Zardari said he was pleased that Pakistan Navy was following the path of self-reliance and the construction of submarines in the country was a significant step forward in this direction.

Zardari urged that there should be optimum use of the national resources.

He said “the country is facing new challenges to its security…extremism is a big threat to our existence. We need a united national commitment to fight and defeat militancy.”

The President pointed out that the government has given political ownership to the fight against militancy and terrorism.

He said Pakistan Navy’s participation in the Coalition Maritime Campaign (CMCP) has enhanced the navy’s professional capabilities in checking arms, drugs and human smuggling.

President Zardari said it has also improved Pakistan’s capacity to fight the threat of militancy to our national security.

“It is reassuring that Pakistan Navy commanded the Maritime Task Force 150 thrice…it shows our resolve towards international peace,” he said.

On the occasion, President Zardari urged young naval officers to dedicate themselves to their profession and protect the sea lanes of the country’s communication.

He said he was pleased to learn that Pakistan Naval Academy was training cadets from the brotherly countries of Kazakhstan, Maldives, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Sudan.

The President also congratulated the passing out Midshipmen and the SSC Class cadets.

The President said he was particularly pleased to note that for the first time women officers were also part of this passing out parade.

He said the women officers’ presence at the ceremony reflected the policy of the government to encourage women to play their role in all areas of the national progress including defence.

The ceremony was also attended by the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majeed and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir. — APP

KARACHI: The contractors of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) and Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) are in the process of repairing and reconstructing the affected buildings of M.A.Jinnah Road, in response to the appeal of Nazim Karachi, Syed Mustafa Kamal.

The contractors have employed a work force comprising 1500 people with heavy machinery in the rehabilitation work and so far completed the work on 10 to 12 shops. Services of civil engineers have also been hired to oversee the work.

The contractors are trying to finish the work within a week so that the shops could be handed over to the traders for resumption of the business activities at the earliest.

Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has restored electricity to the shops where rehabilitation work has been completed.

Meanwhile, over 3,000 survey forms have distributed for estimation of the losses.