Prime Minister Hesham Qandil has said that the government is ready to respond to the demands of Port Said residents by sending a judge to conduct investigations, as opposed to prosecutors.
In an interview aired on State TV, Qandil said that imposing a state of emergency was an exceptional procedure and was caused by unusual circumstances.
“There’s no collective penalty,” he added. “All appreciation to people of the canal.”
He also said that the national project to develop tge Suez Canal includes all Egyptian governorates, saying that the project will generate more than 750,000 jobs and that it will be inaugurated in Port Said, Ismailia and Suez.
Speaking about the recent civil disobedience campaign in Port Said, Qandil said that Cabinet members are in contact with the Port Said governor and the governorate’s representatives in the Shura Council, adding that he was ready to hear the demands of representatives from among the demonstrators.
Qandil also offered condolences over the deaths of Port Said residents during ongoing protests since the end of January, saying that those responsible for the killings will be brought to justice.
The 25 January revolution taught us that no one is above the law,” he said.
