Targeted killings: Nawaz criticises govt’s failure to improve law and order

Condemns murder of Sindh chapter’s joint secretary in Karachi.

LAHORE:

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif has strongly criticised the government for turning a blind eye towards targeted attacks in Karachi, following the killing of the party’s Sindh chapter’s Joint Secretary Mian Taimur and his father Mian Arbab on Tuesday night.

He said that innocent people were being killed daily in Karachi, while the government was ignoring the situation by failing to stop the attacks and arresting the killers. The PML-N chief added that all criminal elements involved in such rampant killings needed to be crushed to restore law and order.

In a statement, Sharif demanded from the government to immediately arrest the culprits involved in the murder of Taimur, Arbab and other innocent citizens killed in targeted attacks. On Wednesday, Sharif also telephoned Mian Abrar, Taimur’s uncle and conveyed his condolences.

Praising the slain joint secretary, Sharif claimed that Taimur was a simple and gentle man who was an asset to the PML-N.

A meeting of leaders of PML-N’s Sindh chapter which was to be convened on Thursday morning in Lahore by Sharif has now been postponed in the wake of Taimur’s murder.

Secretary General PML-N, MNA Iqbal Zafar Jhagra also echoed Sharif’s remarks by demanding the government to take prompt and strict action against Taimur’s killers and bring them to justice.

He questioned what sort of democracy was being practised in Karachi where people were being targeted based on their political affiliations. Jhagra added that this was not the first time the PML N’s leadership was targeted in Karachi. He mentioned that Vice President PML N Sindh, Tariq Khan, was also gunned down in 2008.

Jhagra lamented the inaction of the Sindh government against politically-motivated target killings in the metropolis. He questioned how democracy could flourish if such crimes occurred. He called on the Election Commission of Pakistan to take notice of the situation that was aimed at intimidating political opponents.

On the other hand, Central Information Secretary PML-N, Mushahidullah Khan termed Taimur’s murder a calculated move and a part of a conspiracy being hatched against PML-N.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2013.