Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Malik said the PML-N should have suspended the MNA after he escaped from police custody last night, but the party had only issued statements in reaction to the incident.
The interior minister said police had been ordered to shift Anjum Aqeel to the Secretariat or Margalla police station, but he had been taken to Shalima Police Station instead. He said police had not handcuffed Khan as a goodwill gesture.
Malik said the police had not returned fire during the incident and said that they should have passed on information so that action could have been taken to control the situation.
He said the concerned police officials had been suspended and an inquiry had been ordered against them.
Malik said a case had been registered against Khan after investigations had been carried out in accordance with a suo motu notice by the Supreme Court.
He appealed to the PML-N MNA to surrender and said that he would be tried according to the law.
Hundreds of protesters had earlier assaulted a police party taking Khan to Shalimar Police Station and had helped him flee from police custody.
Khan was named in two cases registered after a sub-committee formed by the Interior Secretary to look in to a fraud and embezzlement case in which Khan, along with others usurped nearly Rs6 billion worth of land.
PML-N forms disciplinary committee
Taking notice of Anjum Aqeel’s escape from police custody, the PML-N has formed a disciplinary committee to probe the incident.
The committee has been set up on the directions of PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and will be headed by Raja Zafarul Haq.
Earlier, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah had claimed the escape episode could be part of a conspiracy to malign the PML-N.
He said the people who helped the legislator escape were not PML-N workers and that it should be ascertained whether Aqeel had fled himself or was forced to do so.
Sanaullah asserted the PML-N had directed the MNA to face the law and prove his innocence before court.
Twenty-one sent on judicial remand
Twenty-one ‘accomplices’ of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan have been sent on 14-day judicial remand.
Eleven others have been sent on five-day physical remand.
Speaking to Express 24/7, PML-N leader Siddiqul Farooq said that the act was Khan’s personal action and the party will take action once allegations against him have been proven.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ