President General Pervez Musharraf has directed the four provincial chief ministers and bosses of law enforcement agencies to fully enforce the ban on public display of weapons. The president also directed the NWFP government and authorities concerned to locate and block illegal FM radio stations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).He gave these instructions while chairing the 10th meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) here on Monday at the NSC Headquarters in the Cabinet Division building. Gen Musharraf also expressed concern over the recent surge in suicide attacks, extremism and militancy and un-hindered movement of militants to settled areas. He said that the militants must be taken head on, security of vital places be beefed up and activities of suspected elements be strictly monitored.
Gen Musharaf assured the Frontier government that the size of the provincial police force would be increased and provided with transport and equipment facilities to deal with growing militancy in the province, particularly in its southern districts. He stressed that those behind suicide attacks, harassment and threats were enemies of Pakistan and its people. He warned that the government would not allow such elements to take the law into their hands. He vowed that with the support and cooperation of the people, these “anti-social and anti-state elements” would be eliminated. The NSC agreed with the president that “moderate forces” and elected representatives should cooperate to curb extremism and terrorism. The council also discussed the current political situation in reference to the judicial crisis. The president complained that “certain elements” were trying to politicise constitutional and legal issues and “the people of Pakistan will not pay any heed to their propaganda”.