KARACHI:
The Sindh Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a resolution condemning a
threatening letter received by PPP Patron-in-Chief Bilawal Bhutto
Zardari from the outlawed Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).
In a
related development, a special security squad has been detailed for
Bilawal following the threats by the LeJ.PPP MPA Abdul Sattar presented
the resolution which condemned the threatening letter received by his
party chief. The resolution was unanimously passed by the assembly.
Speaker
Agha Siraj Durrani said the situation had become clear after the
threats to the PPP chief and added that action should be taken against
those terrorists who had been identified.Another MPA Irfanullah Khan
Marwat from the PML-N claimed that the threatening letter to Bilawal was
an attempt to sabotage the dialogue process between the government and
the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. He further claimed that every time steps
were taken for the betterment, such conspiring elements became active.
On
the other hand, a special security squad has been formed for the PPP
patron-in-chief following the LeJ’s threatening letter. Sources told
Online the Sindh government had chalked out a special security plan
under which 30 special commandoes would perform duties for his security
while three bullet-proof vehicles had also been allotted in this regard.
Bilawal in a tweet on Thursday claimed that he had
received threats from the LeJ and he would hold the Punjab government
responsible if it continued to provide protection to the group and
refused to take action against them. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz
Sharif took notice of the tweet and directed the Punjab Police chief to
probe the matter. Later, the Punjab IGP contacted Bilawal who
appreciated the prompt action of Shahbaz over the threat given to him
and other party leaders.
The Punjab chief minister had
directed the concerned officials to probe the matter. It is worth noting
that Bilawal has been the most vocal and the boldest voice among the
Pakistani political leadership against the militant groups since the
start of his political career last year.
Meanwhile, PML-N
leader Hamza Shahbaz, while answering a question outside the Parliament
House about the threats to Bilawal, said, “We pray to Allah Almighty for
the safety of everyone.” However, he said that it would not be
appropriate to accuse anyone without having solid proof.
He
also spoke to a private TV channel where he accused Bilawal of issuing
senseless statements and added that there should be no politics on
important national issues such as terrorism. “May Allah protect Bilawal
Bhutto Zardari,” prayed Hamza.
According to Hamza, Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif did not play politics on the issue of Thar and
instead visited the drought-affected district of Sindh.
This
triggered a harsh response from the PPP, as Sindh Information Minister
Sharjeel Memon said it would be better for Hamza to advise the federal
government and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to refrain from bowing before
the terrorists rather than issuing statements against Bilawal. Sharjeel
said the PML N leader should keep his advice to himself as the
government’s ‘reconciliation policy’ with the Taliban had raised serious
concerns among the 180 million Pakistanis.
He described
the ongoing negotiations with the terrorists as an insult to the
Constitution and said Hamza should listen to the heirs of families whose
loved ones sacrificed their lives to safeguard the country. –Agencies
Meanwhile,
Manzoor Wattoo, President, PPP Punjab, in a statement issued here on
Friday said that the PPP workers were upset and agitated over the life
threat given to Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari by the LeJ adding that
the response of the Punjab government on this was equally disappointing.
He called upon the Punjab government to take action against the
terrorist organisation that had safe havens in the Punjab. He described
the statement of Hamza Shahbaz Sharif on the matter as in bad taste.
