Chairman PTI Imran Khan (C) addressing a press conference at his residence on Tuesday June 17, 2014. PHOTO: INP
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan has called for the resignations of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his Law Minister Rana Sanaullah in the wake of a deadly clash between the police and members of the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in Lahore.
“This is the worst example of police brutalities against peaceful demonstrators of PAT, and the chief minister and law minister should immediately tender their resignations after such a violation of human rights,” Imran told a news conference at his residence in Bani Gala on Tuesday.
He said PTI members would visit the injured PAT supporters in hospital to inquire after their health. “Today’s action against the peaceful PAT supporters shows the dictatorial mindset of the prime minister and his brother,” Imran said. He added that the use of police force to instill fear would ‘backfire’.
PTI senior leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said his party rejects Shahbaz’s proposal for a judicial commission to probe Tuesday’s incident. “Such commissions never give the facts or fix responsibilities. Making such commissions just shelves the issue.”
Additionally, Imran warned of ‘serious consequences’ if votes in four National Assembly constituencies are not verified. “The PTI will announce clear-cut deadlines for the government to verify the votes in a public rally on June 27 in Bahawalpur,” he said. “After the deadline, the party will take a serious line of action against the government.”
At a press conference in Lahore, PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry announced that the party will hold countrywide protests today (Wednesday) in solidarity with the PAT. He added that the CM was ‘directly responsible’ for the killing of eight PAT workers.
Speaking outside Lahore’s Jinnah Hospital with PAT chief Tahirul Qadri’s son Hassan Mohyuddin, PML-Q Punjab President Chaudhry Elahi described it as the ‘worst incident in the political history of the country’ and said his party would not accept the findings of the judicial commission.
Elahi described Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as ‘the Narendra Modi of Punjab’. “Sharif has done in Lahore what Modi did in Indian Gujarat by shedding the blood of innocent Muslims,” he said. He called on police officials to refuse orders to fire on unarmed civilians, or ‘face strict accountability’.
Meanwhile, PPP patron-in-chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the killings, saying, “Such brutal use of force against protests is a slap on democratic traditions.” The PPP leader said the Punjab government should issue an apology and order immediate action against those officials responsible.
Shortly after the incident on Tuesday, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement issued a call for the closure of businesses and transport in a ‘day of mourning’ for PAT workers only to take it back hours later.
“We took the decision to call back the closure of transport and business activities after people, especially on the appeal of traders and transporters,” MQM deputy convener Nasir Jamal told The Express Tribune. “The day of mourning will still be observed today (Wednesday) and black flags will be hoisted.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2014.
COMMENTS (4)
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Innocent ppl died and i find it shocking how plmn supporters still defend their leaders. These police thugs should of used rubber bullets or tear gas!! They wanted to kill these ppl as to show their power and not to stand up to them! If the plmn are innocent please answer me this why did showbaz sacked rana?? If the police were not following orders from them whats the reason for the sacking! If the police wanted to remove the barriers they should of done planned it alot better not go in firing guns and expect no backlash! Everyone knows that punjab police are the worse thats why plmn and the police will get no sympathy from the public!
@Muhamamd Saim: of course the answer is yes to your questions. he is dying for power and he would also not mind shedding blood of the innocent people and using it as an excuse to prove his point which is phony just like this canadian guy qadri. they are hungry for power and they want it by hook or by crook. notice the timing...pakistan started doing the right thing and started on the correct path and here come canadian goose and UK tout....excellent and valid points saim...all imranies can do now is cuss us out because they would argue if they had an argument....
Few questions for Dear IK (and PTI supporters):
1- Are you supporting encroachment of public property by any one, including TuQ?
2- Do you support law breakers, miscreants who initiated violence against the public agency which was doing its job as per orders given?
3- Do you believe in courts, or believe in street and media justice?
4- Does the fact that there are encroachments by Raiwind palace and Bilawal house give a justification to every one to encroach upon public property?
4- What different would you have done, had you been in power, if a group of violent people stop your agencies from working by force and initiate violence against civic agencies and put life of workers in danger?
Brutal Sharif Bros. should be brought to court for this one. Their hidden brutality is becoming more visible with every passing day as they try to clinch to their forged mandate.