Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shujaat Hussain today (Aug 14, 2004) vowed to wipe out terrorism as the country marked its 57th Independence Day amid reports of a plot to sabotage the celebrations and attack important installations.

Amid unprecedented security measures to ward off any possible attacks by al Qaeda militants and their local affiliates, Hussain hoisted the national flag at the heavily guarded Convention Centre in Islamabad.

Earlier, the ceremony was scheduled to be held outside Parliament. Official sources said the ceremony was shifted to the Convention Centre due to bad weather.

"We shall not rest content till we have completely wiped out terrorism from our midst so that Pakistan becomes a haven of peace and security," Hussain said in his Independence Day message.

"During the last few years a conspiracy has been afoot to involve our dear homeland in terrorism, but we are facing the situation with great courage and strength."

The low-key celebrations came in the backdrop of terror threats. Pakistani security agencies unearthed a plan to sabotage the celebrations and a number of potential terrorists, who were planning the attack, were picked up by security agencies from different parts of the country, the sources said.

The terrorists were planning hosts of attacks in different cities, it said.