Pakistan Not to allow Opposition to hurt dignity of Judiciary: PM
By Aziz Malik ‘Pakistan Times’ Federal Bureau Chief

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday said the government will not allow the opposition to undermine the dignity of the judiciary. He said this while informally talking to a number of cabinet ministers who called on him here at the Prime Minister House this evening.

The Prime Minister said that the government will also not allow anyone to disturb the normal life of 160 million people of Pakistan.

He said the government is committed to maintaining law and order in all parts of the country and will take all necessary measures to protect the life and property of citizens.

The Prime Minister said that those elements who are trying to disturb the atmosphere in the country are working against the national interest and want to impede the progress and the pace of development in the country.

The ministers discussed with the Prime Minister the current political situation and various matters relating to the Pakistan Muslim League as well as their respective ministries.

They appreciated the reform and pace of development and said that continuity and consistency will enable the country to reach its true potential.

Those who attended the meeting included Federal Ministers Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, Mohammad Ali Durrani, Javed Ashraf Qazi, Ch. Shahbaz Hussain, Sher Afgan Khan Niazi, Wasi Zafar, Ms. Nilofar Bakhtiar, Shamim Haider, Awais Leghari, Ms. Sumera Malik, Nasir Khan and Habibullah Warraich.

Ministers of State Shahid Akram Bhinder, Malik Amin Aslam and Tariq Azim Khan and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Commander (Retd) Khalil ur Rahman also attended the meeting.

Of the Geo Episode

According to another report, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday warned of strict action against those involved in an attack on Geo TV office, saying the government would continue supporting press freedom in the country.

"We will get to the bottom of the matter...and I am sure that this would apprise the people of truth," he said during his visit to the Geo television network's office here.

The Prime Minister assured the Geo staffers of sharing the facts of inquiry, which the government had ordered into immediately after the incident.

He termed the reported torture of staffers during the incident "an unacceptable behaviour", and said the government would maintain an atmosphere of unprecedented press freedom in the country.

Those present on the occasion included Federal Minister for Information Muhammad Ali Durrani, State Minister for Information Tariq Aziz, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Commander Khalil and Secretary Information Khushnud Akhtar Lashari.

Meanwhile, reports from different areas of Pakistan says that on the second day also, journalists, lawyers, traders and workers of political and religious parties continued the protest demonstrations in many cities of Punjab against police attack on Geo News Islamabad office.

In many cities of Punjab including Lahore, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, Okara, Faisalabad, Sargodah, Jhang, Kasur, Muredke, Pakpattan, Shahkot, Shorkot, Bhairah, Jauharabad, Naushehrah, Gakhar Mandi, Pindi Bhatian, Patoki, Mianwali, Jehlum, Arifwala, Chiniot, Cheechawatni and Kabeerwala, several journalist organizations, bar associations, religious and political parties , traders, doctors and different others social organizations staged protest demos against attack on Geo News office.

The demonstrators said that it was an attack on freedom of press and any conspiracy to overawe the press would not be allowed to succeed.

On the occasion, the participants tied black ribbons round their arms and chanted slogans.

Inquiry Officer

And, the Federal interior ministry appointed Saturday Additional District and Session Judge Manzoor Ahmed Mirza as inquiry officer for the judicial probe into the police attack on Geo News office Islamabad on March 16.

According to a public notice issued here signed by Additional District and Session Judge Manzoor Ahmed Mirza, judicial inquiry is aimed at disclosure of the cause behind the attack and that who ordered the attack.

Judicial probe will determine the culprits of the attack and recommend the action against those involved in the incident as well as the suggestions would be put up to avoid such incident in future.

The notice called upon every witness to the incident who is willing to cooperate, to present his statement and witness at 0900 on March 19.●