LAHORE – The Pakistan People’s Party government will conduct a judicial inquiry into the assassination of slain Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, PPP ministers vowed on Friday.
Talking to reporters outside Taseer’s residence after offering condolences to his family, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira declared Taseer’s murder a tragedy for PPP.
Kaira said the incident had exposed that a fresh wave of extremism had struck the country and the elimination of this mindset was necessary for the country’s survival.
Commenting on PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif’s 10-point agenda, Kaira said the reservations put forth by Nawaz were shared by the PPP, as well as the leadership of other political parties in the country.
Referring to the government’s willingness to take all parties along, the minister said all constitutional amendments and legislation had been enacted with the consensus of the entire political leadership.
Kaira said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had constituted a five-member committee to hold consultations with the PML-N and other political parties over the demands’ agenda.
The minister said the PPP government was not defying the apex court, but had sought reviews of decisions per law and the constitution.
He dispelled the impressions that political parties were responsible for Karachi’s deteriorating law and order, adding that political parties worked for political gains and had nothing to do with killing innocent people.
The federal Minister expressed deep sorrow over the murder of a journalist in Karachi. He said Khosa’s appointment as the Punjab governor would augur well for Centre-Punjab relations.
To a question on the rising prices, Kaira said there were certain reasons for the rise in prices of petroleum and other commodities and the government would reach a national agenda with the support of other political parties to overcome price hike. Meanwhile, PPP Information Secretary Fouzia Wahab called the assassination of Salmaan Taseer politically motivated.
She demanded the setting up of a judicial commission to get to the mastermind of Taseer’s killing.
