LAHORE:
After an announcement from Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on
Friday evening, Punjab Minister for Law and Local Government Rana
Sanaullah Khan resigned from the cabinet, while Principal Secretary to
Chief Minister Dr Tauqir Shah was also removed in the wake of the Model
Town incident.
Shahbaz Sharif, during a press conference on Friday evening, claimed that steps had been taken to fulfil the norms of justice. Shahbaz said Rana Sanaullah was his close friend and had rendered invaluable services for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He said when there was a martial law in the country, Rana Sana was in jail. Similarly, he added, Dr Tauqir was like his younger brother and he had been performing his duty honestly and devotedly for the last 15 years. After Rana Sana’s resignation, Education Minister Rana Mashood has been given the additional charge of law and local government departments.
The Punjab chief minister said tough decisions had to be taken for upholding the norms of law and justice as he considered himself answerable to Almighty Allah, the people and history. Shahbaz said he had full confidence in high court and ifapplication in the Supreme Court for the change of judicial commission. He said if the SC took suo moto notice of the incident, even then he had no objection.
Shahbaz said he was grieved at the tragic incident and, to fulfil requirements of justice, he had formed a judicial commission. He said the case registered against sons of Tahirul Qadri was withdrawn the same night. He said with the blessings of Allah Almighty, he survived a deadly disease like cancer and returned to the country and started serving masses. He said his six years’ tenure as Khadim-e-Aala Punjab was before the people. Shahbaz said he was the person who served the affected people round-the-clock during flood and other natural calamities. He said he always helped the oppressed whether cruelty was committed against girls in Sahiwal or in Muzaffargarh and spared no effort to take to task the powerful and cruel people.
The CM said those doing politics of dead bodies were levelling allegations against him that God forbid he was involved in the murder of the innocent people. He said when 42 people were killed in Karachi in 2007, those shedding crocodile’s tears and “Shaikh-e-Haram were celebrating Jashan with those waving fist in Islamabad”. He asked where those people were at that time who were now talking about justice and demanding resignations. Shahbaz said his past stood witness to the fact that he never compromised on justice and reiterated that he would not take rest till justice was provided in the Lahore incident. He said orders had been issued for immediate arrest of those who opened fire on innocent citizens and all-out steps would be taken to uphold the norms of justice. He said he would not compromise nor allow any hindrance in the way to justice.
Shahbaz said the day was very unfortunate for him when he put behind the bars his own son-in-law with handcuffs. He said God forbid such a time came to even an enemy. He said he was not praising himself but giving an example so that no one should raise a finger at him and those criticising him should know about his character. Shahbaz said he wanted that only doing justice was not enough but it should be seen being done so.
Replying to questions of journalists, the CM said he was not taking a defensive position and he had no concern with the demands of Shaikh-e-Haram. He said when the country was passing through difficult times and he was going to every nook and cranny of the province including Rahim Yar Khan, DG Khan and Muzaffargarh to help the people, those enjoying cool breeze and recreational foreign trips were saying that he was doing jugglery. The CM said by the grace of Almighty Allah the south Punjab gave the PML-N the biggest mandate of the history of the country, which was a proof of the fact that Allah Almighty did not waste services and hard work of any one.
Shahbaz said they decided to send a delegation comprising ministers to Minhajul Quran for expressing condolences, but they refused to receive. The CM said he was Khadim of the people and he was deeply shocked over the loss of precious human lives. If Minhajul Quran authorities permitted, he was ready to go there for offering Fateha. He said the people of Punjab were like his family members and those who died in the incident were his own people and he fully realised the grief of the heirs of the deceased. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, federal and Punjab governments and the entire nation equally shared the grief of the bereaved families.
Shahbaz said maintenance of law and order was the responsibility of the government and it would discharge its responsibility efficiently.The CM said Nandipur power project was completed within a record period of seven months and Chinese also termed it a miracle. He said those not aware of the miseries of the poor people of Balochistan, KP, Sindh and Punjab must know that a number of programmes had been launched for reducing sufferings of the people. “Is stopping energy projects a service to Pakistani nation?” he asked.
Shahbaz Sharif, during a press conference on Friday evening, claimed that steps had been taken to fulfil the norms of justice. Shahbaz said Rana Sanaullah was his close friend and had rendered invaluable services for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He said when there was a martial law in the country, Rana Sana was in jail. Similarly, he added, Dr Tauqir was like his younger brother and he had been performing his duty honestly and devotedly for the last 15 years. After Rana Sana’s resignation, Education Minister Rana Mashood has been given the additional charge of law and local government departments.
The Punjab chief minister said tough decisions had to be taken for upholding the norms of law and justice as he considered himself answerable to Almighty Allah, the people and history. Shahbaz said he had full confidence in high court and ifapplication in the Supreme Court for the change of judicial commission. He said if the SC took suo moto notice of the incident, even then he had no objection.
Shahbaz said he was grieved at the tragic incident and, to fulfil requirements of justice, he had formed a judicial commission. He said the case registered against sons of Tahirul Qadri was withdrawn the same night. He said with the blessings of Allah Almighty, he survived a deadly disease like cancer and returned to the country and started serving masses. He said his six years’ tenure as Khadim-e-Aala Punjab was before the people. Shahbaz said he was the person who served the affected people round-the-clock during flood and other natural calamities. He said he always helped the oppressed whether cruelty was committed against girls in Sahiwal or in Muzaffargarh and spared no effort to take to task the powerful and cruel people.
The CM said those doing politics of dead bodies were levelling allegations against him that God forbid he was involved in the murder of the innocent people. He said when 42 people were killed in Karachi in 2007, those shedding crocodile’s tears and “Shaikh-e-Haram were celebrating Jashan with those waving fist in Islamabad”. He asked where those people were at that time who were now talking about justice and demanding resignations. Shahbaz said his past stood witness to the fact that he never compromised on justice and reiterated that he would not take rest till justice was provided in the Lahore incident. He said orders had been issued for immediate arrest of those who opened fire on innocent citizens and all-out steps would be taken to uphold the norms of justice. He said he would not compromise nor allow any hindrance in the way to justice.
Shahbaz said the day was very unfortunate for him when he put behind the bars his own son-in-law with handcuffs. He said God forbid such a time came to even an enemy. He said he was not praising himself but giving an example so that no one should raise a finger at him and those criticising him should know about his character. Shahbaz said he wanted that only doing justice was not enough but it should be seen being done so.
Replying to questions of journalists, the CM said he was not taking a defensive position and he had no concern with the demands of Shaikh-e-Haram. He said when the country was passing through difficult times and he was going to every nook and cranny of the province including Rahim Yar Khan, DG Khan and Muzaffargarh to help the people, those enjoying cool breeze and recreational foreign trips were saying that he was doing jugglery. The CM said by the grace of Almighty Allah the south Punjab gave the PML-N the biggest mandate of the history of the country, which was a proof of the fact that Allah Almighty did not waste services and hard work of any one.
Shahbaz said they decided to send a delegation comprising ministers to Minhajul Quran for expressing condolences, but they refused to receive. The CM said he was Khadim of the people and he was deeply shocked over the loss of precious human lives. If Minhajul Quran authorities permitted, he was ready to go there for offering Fateha. He said the people of Punjab were like his family members and those who died in the incident were his own people and he fully realised the grief of the heirs of the deceased. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, federal and Punjab governments and the entire nation equally shared the grief of the bereaved families.
Shahbaz said maintenance of law and order was the responsibility of the government and it would discharge its responsibility efficiently.The CM said Nandipur power project was completed within a record period of seven months and Chinese also termed it a miracle. He said those not aware of the miseries of the poor people of Balochistan, KP, Sindh and Punjab must know that a number of programmes had been launched for reducing sufferings of the people. “Is stopping energy projects a service to Pakistani nation?” he asked.
