No room for any mistakes, negligence in Zainab murder case probe: CM Shehbaz

• Any ambiguity regarding case is tantamount to affecting investigation, says CM

• Says Punjab govt ready for any cooperation in Asma murder case

• CM Shehbaz meets AJK President, says Indian forces cannot deprive Kashmiris of right to self-determination for long

• AJK President Masood Khan says PML-N govt has vigorously projected Kashmir issue at every forum

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday presided over a meeting of the cabinet’s sub-committee on law and order. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that a purely facts-based investigation of the Kasur incident should be ensured.

The JIT is working in a professional manner and there should be no room for any mistakes or negligence in its investigation. Best professional capabilities should be utilised for the probe, he added. The brutality with Zainab in Kasur is a matter of concern for the whole nation and every person should fulfill his or her social responsibility to curb such happenings in future. The JIT should be approached if anyone has any clues regarding the Zainab murder case.

He said that strenuous efforts are being made to bring the murderer to book while adding that the creation of any ambiguity regarding the case is tantamount to affecting the investigation. CM Shehbaz also said that keeping in view the sensitivity of the case, the media should fulfill its social responsibilities carefully. The arrest of the criminal was the result of hard work by the investigation teams as the cruelty meted out with innocent Zainab has made the nation unnerved. He said that the State Bank, NADRA and other agencies will also be solicited for the investigation of the case.

Asma of Mardan was also a daughter of the nation like Zainab and the cruelty meted out with her has left us distressed. Asma’s DNA test has been conducted by the forensic lab and we are ready for any further cooperation.

Provincial Minister Sardar Ayub Gadhi, Spokesman Punjab Government Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, Advisor Rana Maqbool, Chief Secretary, Inspector General (IG) Police, Punjab Forensic Science Laboratory DG, Advocate General Punjab, Additional Advocate General and other concerned persons also attended the meeting while Provincial Minister Jehangir Khanzada from Attock and Director Banking & Regulations Department of State Bank Akhtar Javed participated in the meeting through video link.

AJK president meets CM Shehbaz

Separately, President of Azad Kashmir Masood Khan called on Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During the meeting, different matters of mutual interest including the national situation came under discussion. Speaking at the occasion, the chief minister said that incidents of unprovoked firing at the LoC by the Indian army and targeting of innocent civilians are highly condemnable.

He said that international conscience is needed to be awakened to the worst cruelties by the Indian armed forces against the unarmed people of the Indian occupied Kashmir. The brutalities of the Indian armed forces cannot deprive the Kashmiris of their right to self-determination for a long period, said the chief minister.

He said that ample funds are being provided for the programmes aimed at providing basic necessities of life to the people of Azad Kashmir, and the Punjab government has included all the federating units, including the Azad Kashmir, in its welfare programmes.

President of Azad Kashmir Masood Khan said that the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) government has vigorously projected the Kashmir issue at every forum.

Punjab minister for local government gives financial aid cheque to Ijaz Ahmad

On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Provincial Minister for Local Government Mansha Ullah Butt has given a cheque of Rs500,000 as financial aid to Ijaz Ahmad of Mustafabad, who is ill and is the father of two physically challenged children.

Earlier, Ijaz had appealed for financial aid to the chief minister. CM Shehbaz took immediate notice of it and issued orders for the release of financial aid.