Imran Khan demands Rangers operation in Punjab

• Says de-politicising police crucial to overcome terrorism
• Had NAP been implemented in true spirit, Lahore attack would not have taken place

A day after the deadly Lahore bombing, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Tuesday re-issued call for a Rangers operation in Punjab province – similar to the one in progress in Karachi.

Talking to a group of reporters outside the Allama Iqbal airport, Khan questioned why a Rangers-led operation was not being initiated in Punjab, when a similar one was being carried out in Karachi. Khan also held the view that the war against terrorism could not be won until the police force was strengthened and de-politicised.

Slamming the provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh over alleged malpractices in their police departments, the PTI chief alleged that the rulers were not sincere in uplift of the police force because of their vested interests. He further said the army and Rangers could not do everything to overcome terrorism on their own.

The PTI chief said Monday’s bombing could have been avoided had the National Action Plan (NAP) been implemented in its true spirit. “When there was a political consensus on the NAP, then why it was not implemented,” he questioned.

To a query, Khan said his party would present the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police act in parliament as well as the provincial assemblies of Punjab and Sindh, adding that “if the rulers really cared about the well-being of the people, they should let it sail through the assemblies”.

Hailing the performance of the KP Police, Khan claimed that the crime rate had reduced in the province due to the PTI government’s sincere efforts towards betterment of the force.

Talking about the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) reforms, the PTI chief said there was a dire need to merge the tribal region with KP.

“If we are to capitalise on the gains of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb, we need to introduce FATA reforms,” he said as he lamented the federal government’s inaction on the matter.

Criticising Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his cabinet, Khan said Sharif’s cronies just wanted to save him in the Panamagate. “The government is not functioning (properly) because its machinery is engaged in protecting the premier’s corruption,” Khan went on to say.

Later, Khan went to Ganga Ram Hospital to inquire after the survivors of the attack.