Pakistan

Shahbaz, Malik: a new war of words?

Rehman Malik said that Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were involved in attacks on the minorities' worship places in Model Town.

Express June 02, 2010

Responding to Interior Minister Rehman Malik's statement of Taliban's presence in Punjab, Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has alleged that Malik is fueling differences among provinces.

In response, Rehman Malik tweeted the following:

@SenRehmanMalik I don't understand how Shahbaz Sharif can term my hard-hitting stance against the taliban as creation of fight between the provinces

He also added:

@SenRehmanMalik The 2 terrorist involved in lahore attacks belong from muzaffargarh and rahimyarkhan. Let somebody deny it, if it is wrong.

@SenRehmanMalik The terrorist, irrespective of their origin from any province, deserve no mercy. They r the enemies of Pakistan, Islam and humanity.

Shahbaz had strongly condemned Malik's allegations stating that "Punjabi Taliban" is a new terminology for the public, and that the nation will have to stand united against such elements.

He also said that the interior minister is being dictated to make such statements.

Earlier, Rehman Malik had said that the attack on Lahore's Jinnah Hospital were carried out by the same terrorists who attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team.

According to Rehman Malik, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were involved in attacks on the minorities' worship places in Model Town and Garhi Shahu on Friday.

He said that the federal government has directed the Punjab government to take action against terror elements taking refuge in the province.

Later, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that the Jinnah Hospital tragedy has cast a serious doubt, yet again, on the performance of law and order agencies.

He said this while presiding over a meeting held at the CM house to discuss the law and order situation in the province. He said that security agencies should utilize all resources to ensure public security, and insisted that a sense of responsibility is the need of the hour.

He also said that the nation must stand united in these difficult times. Only then the war against terror can be won.

This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: June 02, 2010

The original story misquoted Interior Minister Rehman Malik as saying both Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Lashkar-e-Taiba were involved in the Lahore attack. Malik only cited Lashkar-e-Jhangvi's involvement in the attack.

COMMENTS (13)

farhan | 14 years ago | Reply There is no debate of pashtun or panjabi taliban. Its a mentality and thats it. Everyone should play its part in this Jihad against barbarians, at least by condemning them.

maz | 14 years ago | Reply the minister stay quiet or they will lose votes from these terrorist that they use to gain power. Ahmadies pay taxes like everyone else in Pakistan so why the second class treatment. Islam stands for peace And MUSLIMS for the providers of peace security and help to humanity where was these provisions for the Ahmadies

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Ammar | 14 years ago | Reply @Adnan: Because MQM Condemns and take action against the mass murder carried out by these butchers who have cordial relations with people in Punjab Government, as CM Punjab requests them to stop attacks on Punjab cause they are on the same page, and Punjab Law Minister Leads the procession with members of these banned organizations.

Fauzan Sohail | 14 years ago | Reply Twitter yap or speeches... these politicians are all the same. If there is a government led verdict about the organizations responsible, then why are we not hearing of crack-down operations on their bases and headquarters? What's stopping them now?

Tanzeel | 14 years ago | Reply When despite knowing the fact that Taliban actually hailed from NWFP and FATA , we never used term "Pashtun or Pathan Taliban", why on earth this prefix should be used for Taleban hailing from Punjab? How could we associate a terrorist with particular region when we, the same Pakistanis on international forums stress that 'a terrorist has no religion' and disown people like Ajmal Kasab by calling them 'Non state actors'.

Adnan | 14 years ago | Reply Why there's no such term of "Mohajir Talibans" for MQM goons?

ilyas baloch | 14 years ago | Reply why punjab government is so reluctant to take action against "PUNJABI TALIBAN" while its clear that punjabi taliban and south waziristan talibans both are the two faces of same coin, in tribal regions government is taking full action against these elements. then why punjab govt is making hurdles to take against them??? this is because these are PUNJABIS? and that tribal regions r PASHTUNES?????

shahnawaz | 14 years ago | Reply PML-N and Army traditionally had close ties with terror groups and still demonstrate they have soft corner for them. Whenever the talk of operation against terrorists in punjab comes up PML-N always paints it as an ethnic issue. I dont understand why people buy that! http://www.examiner.com/x-51034-Jersey-City-Islam-Examiner~y2010m5d31-Lahore-Carnage--Eyewitness-Account-highlights-Bravery-of-Ahmadi-Muslim-Youth here look at eyewitness accounts, clearly provincial govt (read PML-N ) has a hand in it.

Nadir El Edroos | 14 years ago | Reply What is this supposed to mean? These guys really need to stop treating wider society like children: "Shahbaz strongly condemned Malik’s allegations and said that Punjabi Taliban is a new terminology for the public, and that the nation will have to stand united against such elements."

Amir | 14 years ago | Reply All roads lead to Raiwind! Obviously the brothers, patrons of this congregation wouldn't want this associated there. Unfortunately instead of extracting details from the captured terrorists, and following the lead generated, tracing their last few days movement, and their links, PPP-PML are trying to outdo each other by scoring mileage points against each other. You don't scratch my back, we will not do the same!

Maestro | 14 years ago | Reply Who cares about names? They are the same people who are bent on killing anyone who does not agree with their sick views. The Shariffs need to ban the hateful propoganda against the Ahmadis which is carried out on a daily basis. There are people out there who sole purpose in life is to hurt Ahmadis in ever way possible and impose their overall beliefs on society. Hint - Khatam - e- Nabouvat.

farhan | 14 years ago | Reply It is a bare fact that these two organiations have been involved in various crimes against minorities in Quetta, Karachi etc. Government should start making grounds to unearth more links of these organizations with Al-qaeda and taliban. Without wasting time, Rana sanaullah of PML-N, who was busy campaigning for elections with one such banned organization in Punjab, should apologise with the people of Pakistan. PML-N should refrain from supporting banned religious organizations, otherwise more people will doubt their so-called speeches against Taliban and religious extremists.

Tarique | 14 years ago | Reply Instead of revealing out the names of true culprits,Why Governemnt is not acting against these organizations. I am here bit skeptic about the cooperation between Lashker-e-Jhangvi and Lashker-e-Taiba and if it it true then it is great bad news.

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