Pakistan

Rana Sanaullah reinstated as Punjab law minister

Punjab Governor Rafique Rajwana administered the oath of office to the newly sworn-in law minister.

Web Desk May 29, 2015

PHOTO: ZAHOORUL HAQ/EXPRESS

LAHORE: Days after the Model Town joint investigation team (JIT) gave him a ‘clean-chit’ for his alleged involvement in the incident; Rana Sanaullah took oath as the Punjab law minister on Friday at the Governor House in Punjab.

Punjab Governor Rafique Rajwana administered the oath to the newly sworn-in law minister.

Meanwhile, Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha also took oath as the provincial finance minister.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif along with other high level provincial dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

Rana was forced to resign from ministry in the wake of last year's Model Town tragedy during which at least 14 Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) workers were killed and over a 100 people injured after clashes with Punjab Police.

Read: Model Town tragedy: JIT grants ‘clean chit’ to PM, CM Shahbaz

After the first inquiry team was rejected by the leadership of PAT, a new five-member JIT was formed, headed by CCPO Quetta Abdul Razzaq Cheema, AIG Discipline at CPO SSP Shehzad Akbar, DSP CIA Khalid Abubakar and one official each from the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Intelligence Bureau (IB).

The JIT’s report stated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab chief minister other federal ministers, including the officers of DIG- and CCPO-level were not involved in the incident.

However, it added SP Security Salman Khan was present with the police officers at the time of the incident. When PAT workers pelted stones as well as patrol bombs on the police, it was SP Salman who ordered the firing, and had fired bullets himself as well.

COMMENTS (29)

LawaTimes | 9 years ago | Reply System of its own type .... Welcome to league.

Bashir | 9 years ago | Reply A black spot on the face of Sharif Brothers. A product of Zia mentality.

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Ebaad | 9 years ago | Reply We live in a country where people like Rana Sanaullah are responsible for 'law' for the last 25-30 years, yet we whine over the country's state of law. Wow!

H Chaudhry | 9 years ago | Reply @Raider I am not sure how old are you but from your comment about calling some one ugly, you are probably a teenager. Grow up! Take a step back and read what you wrote. Try to either see full picture or no picture. 7 PTI seats in Gujranwal Cantt means NOTHING! Here is why, Cantts are defences, richer people that do support PTI. On overall basis, PTI lost badly in CANTT elections. That is PMLN defeated PTI in even the areas that PTI has support in that is DHA/CANTTS. So if you want to compare Cantt elections, look at the full picture. How strong PMLN is, well look at NA 137 result from a month ago, PMLN won by over 50K, see PP 196, heavy victory. It seems PMLN will steam roll on June 8 as well. What does this all means, Nothing! PMLN is the largest party whether you like it or not and you have to wait for 2018 to find out whether people will vote N or not but for now PMLN is in Government, they won heavily and they have RIGHT to place minister whomever they want. Get over 2013 election loss.

raider | 9 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: @Blithe: @Adnan Siddiqi: how ugly guys you would be i could not imagine, at least remember fate of Gaddafi he met at last, he used to declare their peoples as anarchist

raider | 9 years ago | Reply @Blithe: @Ch. Allah Daad: @Adnan Siddiqi: gullu butts here at ET

Zahid | 9 years ago | Reply Sorry we don't have any laws in our country criminal became minister Rana have to be behind the bars he and CM Punjab are killer of innocent people God knows whats going on in our country Pakistan

Ali | 9 years ago | Reply This is Pakistan. Where criminals are law ministers !

Arsie | 9 years ago | Reply @H Chaudhry: You nailed it mate! This country can't be held hostage to the wishes & aspirations of the dharna lot. Enough damage done to the economy in their stupid adventures. Rana Sanaullah did the right thing by resigning from his ministry to give way for a fair trial. Now that the JIT has given him a clean chit there's absolutely no reason to keep him out of cabinet.

raider | 9 years ago | Reply @H Chaudhry: why do you tell us how strong is pmln , shabaz sharif about to complete 10 years in Punjab with ever worsening governance and slack grip of provincial matters especially law and order , let this govt to complete one more year then sweet shops may you find evacuated one day, PTI will be only party to emerge as dominating the pie with his leader possessing all integrity intact either it is financial, moral etc etc. if you don't believe then observe result of Gujranwala cantonment board where pti lost all seats in general election now possesses 7 against 5, also remember by election in azad kashmir in recent past where all status quo amassed and be defeated pti alone

raider | 9 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: @Blithe: i use to note same comments with little bit shuffling of words from these IDs, worlds like "anarchist and "crime against state" are only learned these by heart, we know how much you and your bosses are loyal to the state, money which was laundered also belongs to state, if killing of 14 peoples was not by any anarchist then why rana sanah ullag and shabaz sharif fears to be guilty and disown this matter, supreme court and justice sajad ali shah was also symbol of the state. while had narrow escape when SC was stormed, police stations in FSD(rana shoib) also belong to state,

Aamir - Toronto | 9 years ago | Reply @Blithe......i guess you a personal grudge towards Sir Imran Khan because you spew venom every time you turn around.

H Chaudhry | 9 years ago | Reply @Ishrat Also it is a lie to say Govt rejected first JIT. It was PAT that rejected it because rightfully so the JIT said the sick canadian is responsible for inciting violence and yes the first JIT said that Government could have done better but no where it said Oh Sharif's called for murder and designed the plot. Enough with this insanity. Learn basics of law. 14 people died because they attacked law enforcement. They died because they blindly followed a foreigner who abused his followers sentiments and incited violence. It is qadri that is responsible for these 14 murders. Grow up please. No one is spending all money in Lahore. Every where there is development. If not than people will vote Sharifs out in 2018. If Sharif's are spending that much on security, they will suffer but what about security of Musharraf, its same or more. Why that or why not point out that? Punjab has voted for PMLN because of their hardwork. If you dont like it, I am sorry. I am not sure if you have consience either Mr. Ishart! @Gramscian So the first report said, Government planned and executed Killing of the 14 people? No it did not. Report said Government could have done better and report also said the Sick Canadian incited violence. Sick canadian is directly responsible. Regardless, whether you like it or not, accept it or not, elections are over, its PMLN government thorugh 2018. Vote them out if you dont like and respect others vote.

S Chaudhury | 9 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: Your comments are sickening. All sound minded people knows this man is big Budmash I can only pray for you

Adnan Siddiqi | 9 years ago | Reply A true fighter who always upheld the finest traditions of democracy and was at the forefront of the struggle against a tinpot dictator who along with his institution usurped powers illegally. Welcome back Rana Sanaullah. We really missed you Sir. Now go and break a leg.

Ishrat salim | 9 years ago | Reply Why the first JIT report not made public ? Why was the first JIT report rejected by the govt and formed new JIT ? This is called justice by Sharif bros on which 1500 security people are there to protect them and their families. Rs 50 crore per year is spent on their security. Recently, Rs 40 million has ben approved fo supply and installation of flood lights around the Jati Umra. so, what have they done for the poor people ? Only Lahore is not Punjab or Lahore only is not Pakistan. Remember, killing of innocent people in model town,or for that matter anywhere in Punjab, will not go in vain. SS, Rana Sb and all those at the helm of affair and those who support such illegal actions, will have to answer to Allah swt. There is something called zameer- conscience, do they have one ?

Gramscian | 9 years ago | Reply @H Chaudhry: If thats so why PML-N has not released Justice Baqir report that held Punjab government responsible for the massacre? The second JIT was a topi drama.

Blithe | 9 years ago | Reply @shahid: Ask that to those inciting and the Canadian cleric ...

Blithe | 9 years ago | Reply The Canadian comedian and the cricketer turned politician to need to be tried for their crimes against the state

sensible | 9 years ago | Reply Not surprised at all. Law is only for poor, thugs and rich can get away with no harm

Parvez | 9 years ago | Reply The last nail in the coffin of credibility of our judicial system.......shamelessly sad.

shahid | 9 years ago | Reply Then these people whine about Marsha Laws. How more ugly it can get than this. 14 people brutally tortured, murdered in cold blood and the killers are respectable heads of the province. Where should a common man get justice? I think justice on roads is the only option left with this nation.

Aamir - Toronto | 9 years ago | Reply Just speechless and ashamed, it seems that PML-N finds pleasure in rubbing salt in the wound !!!

H Chaudhry | 9 years ago | Reply @Ranjha Go and throw up! No one cares really. He is not in question anymore and if Govt wants him to be minister so be it. It doesnt matter what you like or want really. Things are bigger than some of you cry babies. @SRH Hashmi You are wrong. No one handpicked anything. This is quite clear from the beginning. If there is a travesty here, its the Sick canadian is not being held accountable for inciting violence. What PUBLIC SENTIMENT you are talking about? I belong to the people and I fully welcome this. Do you know how strong PMLN is, did you see recent by election results. We the people do support the party. So please help me understand What are these PEOPLE whose sentiment is not regarded by Punjab Government?

S.R.H. Hashmi | 9 years ago | Reply First a JIT of hand-picked – and picked wisely – officials cleared the higher-ranked police officials as well as Rana Sanaullah, Shahbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif of all wrong-doing. And soon after that, Rana Sanaullah was reinstated as the Provincial Law Minister, and Shahbaz Sharif and other ‘dignitaries’ attended the swearing in ceremony and ‘gracws’ the occasion. I suppose this is what is meant by adding insult to injury, and doing it on a grand scale. So, it is just too bad that fourteen innocent people, including women, got killed and another ninety got bullet wounds through straight shooting by the Police at the peaceful gathering at Model Town Secretariat of Dr. Tahirul Qadri. And they have found a scapegoat: SP Security Salman Khan and the Policemen who did the actual shooting. It is obvious that for an operation of this level, clearance would have been obtained from higher ups including Shahbaz Sharif who takes personal interests even in relatively minor matters. If the Punjab leaders had theslightest of regard for public sentiment, they would not have reinstated Rana Sanaullah to his former position. Perhaps the whole drama is being staged to teach the public a lesson, and to tell them in no uncertain terms as to what would happen to them In case they ever dared to raise their voice against the Sharif family and their minions. Soon after Model Town killings, the Sharif brothers looked a bit nervous but their confidence has been fully restored, and their arrogance taken to even higher levels with the ever-increasing cordiality between the two highest-level Sharifs. I suppose until things get better, which they would eventually do, this is the price that people have to pay for living in societies like Pakistan. And in general terms, people are not entirely blameless because they are the ones who choose and back such leadership. Also, being divided on ethnic, sectarian and other basis, they dissipate most of their energy fighting each other and are unable to present a joint and formidable opposition to nearly the same dynasties that have been exploiting us for decades. Karachi

usman | 9 years ago | Reply Long live the justice!

Shahid | 9 years ago | Reply This is ridiculous! RIP justice.

Ch. Allah Daad | 9 years ago | Reply A sad day for anarchists and fake revolutionary thugs. It was a big mistake to remove him without valid reason.

Ranjha | 9 years ago | Reply I am going to throw up!

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