Splinter group of militants responsible for attacking Shuja Khanzada: Rana Sanaullah

Punjab law minister says the investigation is still active, assures govt's commitment to apprehend attackers

LAHORE: Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said on Thursday investigation into the Attock suicide attack, which killed Punjab Home Minister Colonel (retd) Shuja Khanzada, had revealed that a splinter group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was involved.

Addressing the Punjab Assembly session in Lahore on Thursday, Sanaullah said that investigations in to the attack were still active, and that identification of the attackers had led to substantial progress in the case.

Noting the sensitivity of the case, the law minister said he was unable to provide further details to the public, beyond that the attackers belonged to the TTP's Aftab group.

This is second time in the current week that the law minister has apprised the house about progress into the Attock attack.

Khanzada was among at least 16 people killed in a suicide blast at his political office near Attock, about 80km west of Islamabad last month

Punjab Assembly Deputy Opposition Leader Sibtain Khan had submitted a call to attention notice, seeking information regarding the attack. He urged deputy speaker Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani that the call to attention be kept in pending until investigations are completed.

Read: Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada killed in Attock suicide blast

However, the law minister assured the house that the government was dedicated to pursue the case.

“There is no question that we will lose focus. We will apprehend those responsible,” said Sanaullah.

No development funds for opposition

Meanwhile, criticism by the opposition benches over the government’s failure to grant development funds for their constituencies marred the question hour related to the local government and community development department. PTI lawmakers quizzed the parliamentary secretary alleging false answers were provided.

While MPA Dr Nosheen Hamid criticised the department for failing to release funds for development work in constituencies of opposition lawmakers, parliamentary secretary Ramzan Siddique Bhatti claimed no such discrimination existed.

Questions pertaining to absence of water filtration plants in Faisalabad, gender insensitivity of district reconciliation committees and illegal occupation of land at the Miani Sahib graveyard were also taken up by lawmakers.

While session was scheduled to include general discussion on annual reports of the Punjab Public Service Commission and Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority, the lack of quorum prevented the debate. The opposition benches protested for not being handed reports in order to take part in the debate eventually leading to MPA Siddique Khan pointing the quorum.

The session was adjourned for Friday morning with less than 50 members present in the house.