Remove Rana Sanaullah for statements against Awan: Senate

PML-N's Rana Sanaullah called out for declaring PPP's Babar Awan 'Wajibul Qatl'.


Abdul Manan June 15, 2011

ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Wednesday passed a resolution against Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, saying the provincial government must remove him from his post over his statements against Senator Babar Awan.

After the budget was announced on June 10, Sanaullah criticized Awan and Punjab Governor Khosa, calling them “black sheep in black coats”.

Sanaullah claimed that Awan was a corrupt lawyer who accepts fees from “corrupt elements who looted the Bank of Punjab”.

He further added that Awan and Khosa are considered “obnoxious characters” within the lawyers community and they should be eliminated.

Sanaullah used the word Wajibul Qatl (liable to be killed) to describe Awan.

The Senate condemned this statement today (Wednesday) and urged the Punjab government to take action against Sanaullah for these remarks.

The Senate also demanded the formation of a commission to investigate the statements and called for disciplinary action against Sanaullah.

The Senate warned that the Punjab government and Sanaullah will be responsible if any harm comes to Awan.

Sanaullah told The Express Tribune that his statements should be taken in the context of the lawyers community, clarifying that lawyers deem corrupt lawyers ‘liable to be killed’.

COMMENTS (42)

Nazia Rehman | 12 years ago | Reply Rana Sanaullh’s recent loud mouthness is formidable as he declared Dr. Babar Awan Wajb-ul-Qatal. Sanaullah made these remark after the presentation of budget in the Punjab Assembly. The war of words between the PPP and PML-N is a common thing, but Sanaullah has gone grossly overboard while reacting to Babar Awan’s criticism of his party’s government in Punjab. The Senate noted with concern that a few days after a similar proclamation, Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer was killed. The Senate urged the provincial government to remove him from his position and take disciplinary action against him. Supreme Court Bar Association and opposition in Punjab Assembly expressed similar sentiments. Sanaullah’s defence that he did not threaten Babar Awan with murder and that he was just presenting the stance of the lawyers notwithstanding, his statement constitutes incitement to murder. For a law minister to declare someone ‘liable to be killed’ should cause an alarm in the party that propped him up on this position. In a climate where jihadi elements are running amok and killing opponents to resolve difference of opinion has become a normal fare, statements such as these will further strengthen extremist tendencies and give justification to those who believe in extremist ideologies and violent means. Just recently, Khatm-e-Nubuwwat distributed pamphlets in Faisalabad inciting people to kill Ahmedis, calling them wajib-ul-qatl. What is the difference between Punjab law minister and Khatm-e-Nubuwwat? Is it just a coincidence that Sanaullah is alleged to have links with militant organizations?
Hassan | 12 years ago | Reply Talk about calling the kettle black
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