By IANS
Islamabad : President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Saturday have expressed their deep grief and sorrow over the loss of 18 lives in violence in Karachi Saturday.
Sources told that president and prime minister were briefed on the situation in Karachi by the Sindh government in a high level meeting held in the capital, Online agency reported.
The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao and heads of intelligence agencies.
As many as 18 people were reported killed and scores injured in running battles between rival groups in Karachi where the country's suspended chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was due to address supporters.
Musharraf and Aziz, while regretting the violence in Karachi, instructed the Sindh government and law enforcing agencies to take appropriate measures for the security and protection of the people.
Both the leaders also made several other decisions related to the situation in Sindh.
Addressing the meeting the president said that some miscreants by committing acts of violence in Karachi have challenged the writ of the government and such elements would be dealt with strongly.
According to sources, the Sindh government's request of sending army troops to violence-hit Karachi was also reviewed. It was decided that initially personnel of other law enforcing agencies would be deputed in Karachi and the army would be placed on standby.