Rana Sanaullah has been removed from his post. PHOTO: EXPRESS/ZAHOORUL HAQ
LAHORE: Following Wednesday's incident in Model Town, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced on Friday that the provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah was being removed, Express News reported.
“To ensure fair and transparent investigation of the incident, we have decided to remove Rana Sanaullah from his post,” Shahbaz said.
Vowing to go to any limit to ensure transparent investigation into the Model Town incident, Shahbaz said that along with the law minister, principal secretary Dr Tauqir has also being removed from his post.
Shahbaz told a press conference in Lahore that he had ordered the arrest of police officers who had opened fire on protesters.
"If someone does not have faith in the judicial commission set up by the government, they can request the Supreme Court to set up a judicial commission or take suo-moto notice."
Police and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) supporters clashed outside the Minhajul Quran secretariat on Wednesday that left ten people dead and over 80 injured.
Qadri insists Shahbaz resign
Terming the removal of the law minister as insufficient, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chief Dr Tahirul Qadri claimed that the chief minister had ordered police to open fire on protesters.
Qadri demanded that Shahbaz should resign.
COMMENTS (76)
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Laughing out loud at people who think Sharif brothers mean what they say. Please tell me when was Zardari 'dragged on to the streets of Lahore' (gave him the guard of honor instead) or 'load shedding will end in six months' (admitted the promises were exaggerated) or 'I will resign if I am found accountable for the Lahore incident' (no police force would take such a step except with the 'blessings' of the CM). All the 'lovers' of PMLN, I challenge you to reply to just these three incidents. Haters will hate till you give them a logical and solid reason not to. RIght now, all you guys have is KPK is corrupt, IK is destablizing the country, blah, blah, blah. Respond to your critics first before criticizing others.
@nabeel:
His province is only confined to Lahore....compare Lahore with other city in Punjab....see the difference...why does he not bring other city of Punjab province at par with Lahore if he is such a cabpable person....he should not make any difference between Lahore and other cities of Punjab....
@Nazir: The only one responsible for this tragedy is Tahirul Qadri. His failed attempts to derail democracy needed some steam so he was willing to create a disturbance and sacrifice some followers from his safe refuge as an asylum seeker in Canada. So sad.
too little, too late! sorry Sharifs, you have indeed lost any credibility
To be honest if this government is derailed in anyway people will forget about the lawlessness in Karachi or KPK. I fear that armed insurgency will start from Lahore and spread throughout Punjab and TUQ/Imran Khan will have no place to hide. The chatter that is talking about coups should forget about it. This time the people will not sit quietly. Rana Sanaullah u were the only bridge in Punjab to deal with sectarian organizations and now u are gone. I fear sectarian violence even more. RIP Punjab.
@Tayyab Pray tell how gave him those bodies? Your beloved CM..
@Aalia: Yes. KP has fired several members for much smaller crimes then murder. So stop asking us to appreciate it and support the arrest and proper punishment of murderers.
@Ch. Allah Daad:
Thank God, Gullu Butt is okay!
@khalil:
You forgot the massacres which were committed two centuries ago when no one resigned either! We are now in the 21st century and have had enough with Sharifs; they are just too many of them. They can keep their massive assets as well.too! They are entitled ofcourse for a good pension for the past hard work.
Rex Minor.
Gys you will never get it,,, "Rana is gearing up for heading Railway Line project from China Khunjarab pass to Gawadar, as Hanif Abasi is leading Metro in Rwp,,,"
@A: History will remember that Imran Khan used to ask for resignations of governing party when there was chaos in his own governing region (KPK). When you ask something from someone, better step forward yourself to give an honorable example first.
Haters need to learn lesson from Chief Minister Punjab. He is really an asset for Pakistan. It is because of his performance that his province is progressing.
Its nothing but an eye wash.. he will be assigned some other post. Put him behind bars if they really want to show true democracy atvwork. And shahbaz not so shateef should tesign ad its his failure of governance.
All my respect for CM Punjab. He is really a great man. I was his fan and am his fan. I shall remain his fan forever. Allah bless him.
Can anybody show proof that CM ordered these attacks ? For God sakes people, I am just speaking as a neutral, why spread fitna.
Shame on us. what happened in thar, cold storage unit n whats happening in karachi in last 20 years or whats happening with the IDP's is far far worse than that. model town incident was indeed very very sad but just because you dont like PML-N cuz of yr own party affiliations doesnt mean u ignore everything n start blaming them for everything wrong in this country. 54 people died in sehwan due to lack of cold water in 4 days yet no media covered it n there was no debate on social media or any protest from our so called saviours (TuQ, S.Rasheed, S. Mizari etc). Pathetic just pathetic
@To All my innocent, emotional, stupid or overclever brothers and sisters who are demanding CM and PM resignation - this is not the end story infact the beginning of story. Federal and Punjab Governments will not allow this time Tahirul Qadri to play with the lives of innocent people and then run away making hue and cry. Now the circle around Tahirul Qadri is tightening soon he will be behind bars Insha Allah.
At least there is accountability in Punjab - the one who should apologize and resign to stay in Canada where is an asylum seeker in Tahirul Qadri. Tahirul Qadri does not work in Canada but just lives on state khayrat. He doesn't seem to want Pakistan to progress and develop so he is always trying to destabilize the country.
Pakistan will continue to burn like this as long as long as politics will be played even on deaths of innocent pakistanis. The world watches football and pakistan watches bloodshed. such a misery!! The only solution is crushing the wrong people in army, politics and civil through no matter what.
@Nazir: You are right "This is not enough. A murderer must get punished accordingly." this is the first step. Federal and Punjab Government will not let Tahirul Qadri run Insha Allah
What a farce ... tomorrow he will be another minister ...
PTI should focus on KPK which is continuously being ignored by provincial government. When hundreds prisoners fled from Bannu Jail, no one resigned. On May 12 incident in Karachi, no one resigned.
Right step taken by CM Sharif as ever. I appreciate him.
I salute PML-N and Shahbaz Sharif for taking this action. Mr. Sharif is a man of integrity.
Nawaz Sharif's kingdom of insanity is coming to an end I must say. Fingering with Army, fingering with ISI, fingering with media, destruction of PCB, NADRA, PEMRA, fingering with IK/PTI on rigging. What else Sharif family wants from Pak? Sacking Sana Ullah is too little, too late.
Politics of Tsunami Khan and Canadian Mulla may destabilize democratic process in Pakistan. Tahir ul qadri needed dead bodies for his movement and he has succeeded to get those.
The respect for Shehbaz Sharif has much increased in my heart today. On May 12, 2007, 80 persons were killed by persons backed by Musharraf. No one resigned at that occasion. Others should learn from Shehbaz Sharif. Judicial Commission was set up within 24 hours. But haters will continue their hate. No hope from these haters and their leaders Imran and Qadri. Allah bless Shehbaz Sharif.
The Sharifs are made up of Taflon, they will do everthing, fire all the ministers but not take themselves the political responsibility for the police massacre. This is one time that they cannot even blame the Talibans?
Rex Minor
Soon he will awarded some with other bigger role in the provincial govt.
Biggest shame for Canadian moulvi who is responsible for killings in Lahore
Just that? What about yourself and police who conducted this shameful act at your orders? Killing people including women and just sack a minister? Are we dump?
@Pakistani:
Firstly it is questionable if this government is elected as there was mass rigging by n league in elections. Second, if Qadri had broken any law you could have prosecuted him but you couldn't because he hasn't broken any laws. However your corrupt and possibly illegal government’s goons have killed 8 innocent Pakistanis and it’s time for law (real law not noon league law) to take action against those in government who are responsible for this massacre.
The good thing is nobody is shedding tears for this terrorist friend and main supporter of all such organizations Rana Sana. He should have been fired long ago.
He is being 'removed' from law ministry or the home ministry or the other two positions he is holding or all of them?
But questions still remains, who will apprehend the hate monger Canadian sick man, qadri. Hate preaching is as bad as murders and he bear 50% responsibility here, why are we not going after qadri.
Its time to audit his finances as well, who is funding him and how is qadri living a lavish life in Canada? qadri must be prosecuted as well.
While we are at resignations/sacking, this is a good step by CM Sharif. When will some one be sacked in KPK for Banu jail break and death of children.
@Dr Anees Chaudhry:
No civilised society allows killing of innocent people by goons masquerading as government too. Civilised societies punish such people without regards to rank.
Pity nation. Sacking is not a punishment, I will only acknowledge this N league drama if they give a death penalty to Rana and the others who were involved
@Asad Shairani: The public outcry against PMLN has also been unprecedented
Inquilaabis were complaining there could be no impartial investigation with Rana Sana as Law Minister and Tauqeer Shah controlling bureaucracy. Now they've been removed and a LHC Judge is conducting an inquiry. Instead of presenting evidence before the Judge, or even making allegations about the Judge's impartiality, they're saying 'it's not enough' 'scapegoat' etc. What do these people want? Street justice by their whim? This is not jihadi controlled Iraq or Syria. We have a penal code and law.
I really dislike this friend of Malik Ishaq. Put him behind the bars.
Wow...! Is this the price of murdering 13 innocent people by Sharif Bros?
@Pakistani Because they are all related by marriage or family to the PM
Rana will get other lucrative behind-the-scene posts. This is a complete eyewash. There needs to be jail time for the perpetrators.
@Aalia:
They have cooled bloodedly murdered people in broad daylight, how is this enough? They should be prosecuted too.
Well done PML-N. Never seen before accountability! Proud to have voted for you. You are indeed our best hope. Proud PML-N supporter.
But what about the Corruption in Punjab Police. ?. This dismissal will not change anything within the Punjab police. Also why IG Punjab is not dismissed so far. ?. Anyway let us see how Shahbaz will elect some other family member or friend as the new Law minister in Punjab.
Now the PM too please.
@Aalia: Guess Rana Sahib perhaps not directly related to Shareefs
Face washing Mr Shahbaz. You should resign until a fair investigation by supreme court. Innocent women, children and elders were killed by police under your watch. If you are innocent and have trust on supreme court then stand aside and let the court decide.
@Aalia At least you admit that their key person is a cold blooded murderer who get in bed with extremists...The way the PMLN is going, there will come a time when they wouldnt be able to show their face on the streets of lahore, without people throwing rocks at them.
The entire government in punjab needs to resign, they have lost all moral standing. Opening fire on their own people with the intent to kill!
All haters are busy in expressing their hate against the best CM among all the 4 provinces. You people can conduct any type of independent survey. All surveys will give the result of Shehbaz Sharif as the best CM ever.
No civilized society tolerates anyone who challenges the writ of the government. If so-called educated people are leading the example to place barricades on the public property and challenge the write of government, if such an action is tolerated, it would cause a state of anarchy. If government orders are wrong there is something called as "court". The circumstantial evidence suggests the power of religion is for the lust of power.
@Nazir: Real murderer is Tahirul qadri. But you people will never admit. There must be some ethics of politics.
Haters will stop hating. Well done Shehbaz Sharif. It was Tahir ul Qadri who is responsible for bloodshed in Lahore. He did speeches of hate that resulted in all this. Why thousands people of PAT were having weapons? Why did they open fire on Police? Why did they throw petrol bombs on Police?
Fair enough.
No other political party can touch the sinister nature of PML-N. What a cunning move. Why he does not resign himself besides Rana Sana Ullah.
Sana Ullah should be arrested and put on ECL.
And Shabaz should resign too, or whole government could be over in a few days.
Common guys - These are the last kicks of dying horse
Such great gestures can only be expected from Shahbaz Sharif. He is really a great man. Allah bless him.
True democracy at work here. Salute to Shahbaz and Nawaz, proud to have voted for you. Never seen before accountability. Well done and respect to PML-N.
That is not enough. Arrest that SP who was wishing good luck to gullu butt. Arrest the entire Police squad who was marching behind him. Your entire party is like Gullu butt. He is the true face of your party.
No doubt Mian sb. is great about his decisions
Once again, burden of blame is being shifted. By no means, do i intend that Rana Sanaullah is a saint, but Qatil-E-Ala must resign. Resignation of his cronies, such as Sanaullah is not acceptable.
Instead of removing Rana Sana, you should also step down to conduct an impartial inquiry of the Lahore incident.
I believe that the apparently sensible people such as Shehbaz Sharif and Ch Nisar have been sidelined and the people such as Khuwajah Asif, Rana Sanaullah, Abid Sher Ali, Khuwajah Asif and so on enjoy more closer relationship with Nawaz Sharif. They have been misleading him and will eventually lead to same results as previously i.e. Nawaz Sharif's departure. This group has continuously worsened the political situation whenever they speak up they create more problem for the govt and for the country.
Shehzab Sahrif and Ch Nisaar convinced the Military relationship that if musharf is convicted we'll let him go and it will be win win situation for both of us, the military agreed and musharf showed up in court got convicted and then Nawaz sharif likes many times before didn't keep his word and caused an embassment for both of his men furthermore Ch Nisaar wanted the peace talks to reach somewhere but Nawaz sharif was never committed to starting a full blown operation nor genuine talks instead he gave the responsibility to Molvies and Journalists and they just messed up the whole thing while many precious lives were lost.
Very good decision
More fallguys.. Shahbaz is nitpicking individuals rather than dwelling into details why they are being sacked... Strongly suggests the institution needs reform and the order that trickled all the way down to the trigger should be traced from head to toe
Where is his own resignation? History will remember Shariff brothers being brutal against innocent people including women.
Scapegoat... Is the immediate word that comes to mind. SS knew qurbani of a near and dear one was needed.
PMLN means what they say! admire it haters! can any other party sack their key person?
This is not enough. A murderer must get punished accordingly.