Pakistani Interior Ministry said Tuesday that it fears possible suicide attacks on the occasions of Presidential elections due on Oct. 6.
Interior Ministry Spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said at his weekly news briefing here that instructions have been issued to the provincial governments and law enforcement agencies to ensure strict implementation of law in order to maintain peace and order.
General Pervez Musharraf's term as president of Pakistan will expire on Nov. 15 and he is set to contest the election for next five-year president due on Oct. 6, which has sparked protests from the opposition.
Earlier, the opposition said they would stage demonstrations in the coming few days ahead of the election and their law makers would resign from the National Assembly and provincial assemblies.
Over the past several days, the authorities reportedly have detained or put under house arrest some opposition members including a few senior ones.
Talking to reporters, Cheema did not specify any place where the would-be bombers will strike but said that the threats would be at crowded places.
He said some political leaders and over 100 activists have been placed under preventive detention to ensure peaceful environment ahead of the completion of procedures by the Election Commission to hold presidential elections.
To a question about concern showed by the European Union and the United States over the arrest of Opposition leaders, the spokesman said Pakistan knows best what to do or what not to do to maintain peace and tranquility.
"The government had taken steps within the parameters of law as no government can allow any activities designed to create disturbance and chaos," Cheema said.
The spokesman said facing threats of agitation and siege of the Supreme Court and the election commission, the government was left with no option but to take firm action to maintain public peace and order and protect the sanctity of august institutions.
Replying to a question about threat by Osama Bin Laden, Cheema said the government's resolve to weed out terrorism and extremism is absolutely unshakable.
The spokesman also said that Pakistan and Britain have agreed to hold the second meeting of the Joint Working Group on counter terrorism and organized crimes in the first week of November in London.
The Pakistani government is pursuing multi-faceted efforts to establish peace and order in the sensitive region as quickly as possible so that attention can be focused on development and uplift of the tribal area for the welfare of the tribesmen, Cheema said.
Source: Xinhua
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