Stern action to be taken against anti-state elements: Malik    
ISLAMABAD, July 17 (APP): Minister for Interior Rehman Malik condemning Lahore blasts on Saturday said that the government would take action against the anti-state elements who wanted to destabilize the country. Talking to media persons, the minister said the provincial government had been informed few days back about possible happening of such incident as there were intelligence reports.
Rehman Malik said “We will trace the culprits and they will not succeed in their nefarious designs.” He said the terrorists are on run from their hideouts and hitting the populated areas to create fear and terror among the peoples.
“However, we would jointly handle these elements and eradicate the menace of terrorism from our soil.”
The minister said, “we are going to a phase of war and its aggressive phase has already been passed and soon such elements will be completely rooted out from the country.”
Replying to a question about Pak-India Foreign Ministers’ talks, he said these talks were bilateral and barrier has been broken. “All issues will gradually settle in coming days,” he remarked.
Citing his talks with Indian Home Minister during SAARC Interior Ministers’ Summit, he said “We have agreed on a roadmap and we don’t like terrorism and will not allow any one to use Pakistan soil against other country.”
In response to another question, Malik said the Indian government has been requested to send the Magistrate and police officer to Pakistan who recorded Ajmal Kasab’s statement and testified it before our learned court. “India’s this act will help expedite the trial,” he said.
He said Machine Readable Passports (MRP) have been issued to 10 million citizens and the meeting has been convened on Monday to discuss manual passport issue to fix final date for the validity of such passports.
Earlier, UAE special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Ali Muhammad Al-Shamsi called on the Interior Minister and discussed the matter of mutual interest.
The minister said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relationship with UAE government as its leadership has always helped Pakistan in the hour of trial.
The friendship and relations between the two brethren countries would further strengthen in the coming days, he added.  
Ali Muhammad Al-Shamsi appreciated Pakistan’s role in the region for eradicating menace of terrorism. The UAE representative said his country would fully support Pakistan in its efforts for rooting out terrorism.