Badami Bagh incident: Deputy PM says Shahbaz should take flak, step down
Instead of suspending police officials, Punjab CM should hold himself accountable.
Welcoming the new entrants, Elahi said that the PML-Q represents people from every religion, sect and ethnicity. PHOTO: FILE
Deputy Prime Minister and central leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said on Tuesday that instead of suspending police officials over the Badami Bagh tragedy, Punjab Chief Minsiter Shabaz Sharif should suspend himself.
The Badami Bagh incident shows the incompetence of the Punjab government, he said, while speaking at a public gathering at his residence, where scores of people from Chakwal announced to join the PML-Q.
Welcoming the new entrants, Elahi said that the PML-Q represents people from every religion, sect and ethnicity.
He added that during its tenure, his party had upgraded roads, schools and health care units in the province. “For the sheer love that people of Chakwal have showered on me, I have decided to contest elections from their area,” he said.
“We gave hospitals but the Punjab government under Shahbaz Sharif took away machinery from hospitals leading to the closure of many public health facilities,” Elahi said, adding that local leaders of PML-N did not have the courage to register their protest with Shahbaz.
The deputy prime minister further said that law and order has completely deteriorated in Punjab under the provincial government of PML-N.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2013.