PML-N lawmaker urges APC to control law and order

Another legislator calls for action against Tareen for intervening in state matters

Our Correspondent May 12, 2019

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and other leaders during All Parties Kashmir Conference in Islamabad. PHOTO: PPI

LAHORE: A Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker sought an all parties conference (APC) to discuss the deteriorating law and order in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, while another demanded contempt proceedings against Jahangir Tareen for intervening in state matters.

Hina Pervez Butt, through a resolution, demanded that the Punjab Assembly call an APC to devise a mechanism to tackle the poor law and order situation. Meanwhile, PML-N’s Azma Zahid Bukhari sought contempt proceedings against prominent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen over his alleged involvement in state affairs.

In her resolution, Hina Butt contended that the law and order situation was worsening with each passing day as the National Action Plan, launched in the wake of the Army Public School attack, wasn't implemented. She said the government was spending billions of rupees on security institutions, but was unable to achieve the desired results.

She said there was peace in South Waziristan and Fata areas after operations Zarb-e-Azb and Radul Fasad, but the same results did not trickle down to Punjab and K-P. “Therefore, following the prevailing imbroglio, the government should call an APC and invite all political and religious parties in order to come up with a proper mechanism to weed out terrorism.”

Azma Bukhari, meanwhile, demanded action against PTI's Jahangir Tareen. She asked how a man could intervene in state matters despite the fact that the country's top court has disqualified him. She said Tareen was still participating in federal cabinet meetings, while the country's Prime Minister, Imran Khan, had handed over the agriculture department to him.

Bukhari said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had been raising objections over Tareen's participation and involvement in state matters, but all in vain.

"It is tantamount to committing contempt of court.” She demanded that the Supreme Court take notice of Tareen's involvement in state matters and initiate contempt proceedings.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2019.