LeJ chief’s killing, elimination of al Qaeda’s local network are seen as possible motives. PHOTO: INP
According to sources, the possible motives were revealed in a preliminary report submitted to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif by police chief Mushtaq Sukhera and Home Secretary Maj (retd) Azam Suleman.
In an encounter in Muzaffargarh last month, the counterterrorism department of the province had killed 14 militants – including Ishaq and his two sons, as well as LeJ deputy chief Ghulam Rasool and his two sons. After the killing of the banned militant outfit’s chief, the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) had advised PM Nawaz Sharif against passing the weekend at his Jati Umra residence located near Lahore.
Moreover, CM Shahbaz was advised to stop visiting the flood-hit areas in southern Punjab. He even stopped attending meetings at his Model Town camp office and preferred, instead, to preside over them through video conference. All district police officers (DPOs) were asked to be on alert, because there was a possibility that they might be kidnapped by LeJ militants.
Meanwhile, all provincial ministers were asked not to visit or stay in their home constituencies. Bureaucrats and police officials belonging to the Shia sect were also advised to be on alert.
After the Punjab police and other LEAs raided a house in Kala Shah Kaku last month and eliminated a local network of al Qaeda, security for the senior leadership of the ruling PML-N and the Punjab government was increased.
Lack of coordination
Sources said CM Shahbaz was informed that Khanzada was killed by terrorists because of lack of coordination among the LEAs. Although Khanzada had established under the National Action Plan (NAP) a joint directorate of intelligence agencies at the home department, he was unable to fully operate it. Even though he was the home minister since last October, the police department was divided among three ‘bosses’.
Law Minister Rana Sanaullah was assigned the responsibility of transfers and postings of DPOs, regional police officers and other important portfolios.
Since 2008 he was assigned to oversee police affairs until his resignation last year over the Model Town incident.
Although CM Shahbaz held the home ministry portfolio, he authorised Sanaullah to exercise it at his own free will. As the home minister, Khanzada was provided with limited powers over the police department.
The third ‘boss’ is CM Shahbaz himself. Sources said the bureaucrats preferred his directions regarding police affairs.
A few Punjab cabinet ministers said Khanzada was trying to acquire complete powers of the home minister. They said his ‘overactive performance and careless attitude as regards his security’ made him an easy target of the terrorists.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 17th, 2015.
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