Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday directed the police and law enforcement agencies to prepare comprehensive security plans for the period before, during and after the forthcoming general elections, ensuring the safety of political leaders and the common people.
The Prime Minister was addressing the Provincial Home Secretaries, Inspector Generals of Police and senior officials of the Ministry of Interior and law enforcement agencies.
Shaukat Aziz emphasised that the security plans should not restrict the political activities undertaken within the ambit of law.
He directed that the security plans of all the major political events be worked out in consultation with the relevant political parties and they be briefed on all possible aspects of eventualities.
Once the security plan is agreed to, it must be strictly enforced, he added.
The Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Interior to finalise the draft of the proposed code of conduct and SOPs for the forthcoming political events.
He said the security arrangements on the day of general elections should be discussed with all political parties participating in the elections as well as the Chief Election Commissioner.
Shaukat Aziz said that after concurrence of the Election Commission necessary amendments in the laws be made to extend legal cover to the Code of Conduct and SOPs.
The Prime Minister said the government is fully prepared to meet all the challenges and would continue to make the best of efforts to protect the lives of the people.
While dealing with new and different security situations, the upcoming challenges have to be tackled professionally, he added.
The Prime Minister specially directed the provincial police departments to establish special public relations cells to keep a liaison with the media.
These cells, he added, should be functional round the clock during any major event, to keep the people informed of proper facts.
Media interaction, he said, be made part of any security plan and specific senior officers be designated to perform this assignment.
The Prime Minister said the government fully appreciates the performance of the officers of police and law enforcing agencies in discharging their responsibility of minimising chances of untoward incidents.
The government, he said, would continue to support and provide all the necessary resources to the police and other law enforcement agencies in discharging their duties.
Referring to the Karachi incident in which innocent people lost lives, Shaukat Aziz said that it was a great tragedy which has been condemned by all.
He called upon the law enforcement agencies to prevent such untoward incidents and coordinate closely with all security and intelligence agencies.
The Prime Minister was informed that the culprits responsible for all the previous suicide acts in Karachi have been apprehended showing 100 percent success rate and expressed hope that the culprits for the recent Karachi blast would soon be brought to justice, as well.
The officials while briefing the meeting on the law and order in their respective province, also pointed out the security challenges in handling large crowds and political processions.
They mentioned that despite these difficulties the law enforcement agencies have prepared security plans and it was because of these efforts that leaders were not hurt in the Karachi incident where a large number of police officials lost their life.
The police, they said, is fully committed to protect all citizens and maintain law and order.
Federal Minister for Interior, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Secretary Interior also attended the meeting.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2007