Malik orders strict security steps during Eidul Azha

KARACHI: Interior Minister Rehman Malik has ordered strict security measures all over the country to prevent act of terrorism during the Eidul-Azha.

"I have ordered all the chief secretaries of their respective provinces to place police on alert," he said while talking briefly to media at State Guest House after holding a meeting with the office bearers of Pakistan Business Council (PBC).

He said the security issue during Eidul Azha was discussed in detail at Ministry of Interior on Friday in Islamabad and Police Department has been asked to boost security, particularly, around mosques, imambargahs and Eidgahs and places which could become soft targets of terrorists.

To a question, he said that Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was investigating the case related to the murder of a Saudi national and staffer of Saudi Consulate in Karachi in May this year.

Malik said cash reward will be given to any person who gives any lead to the murder of the Saudi official.

About PPP-MQM relations, he said that MQM leader Altaf Hussain has successfully helped thwart attempts to derail democracy by holding rallies in favour of the government.

"PPP enjoys good relations with the MQM," he maintained.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011