Musharraf angry over attacks on barber and video shops in NWFP

Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has expressed his anger over attacks on barbershops and video parlours in NWFP.

Islamabad, June 26 : Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has expressed his anger over attacks on barbershops and video parlours in NWFP.

He said these attacks amounted to "snatching morsels from the hands of the poor".

He vowed that those making such threats would be punished severely, reports the Daily Times.

President General Pervez Musharraf reiterated his government's commitment to the fight against terrorism and extremism and vowed that the writ of the state would be ensured.

Speaking at a meeting here at Aiwan-e-Sadr, to review measures to effectively root out militancy and extremism in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and parts of NWFP, the President expressed satisfaction over the steps taken to counter growing menace of terrorism and extremism.

General Musharraf said people could be weaned away from extremism by providing them with jobs and eliminating poverty.

Most people in the tribal areas and NWFP were against terrorism and extremism and government was determined to ensure development in the tribal areas, the Daily Times quoted him, as saying.

These efforts must be accelerated so that the fruits of development reach the common man, he said, adding that this was the only way to combat extremism.

ANI