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PTI MPA Shunila Ruth submits adjournment motion in Punjab Assembly over Pakistan Today’s story
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Treasury fails to address agenda items on second consecutive day due to Opp’s protest over Multan Metro Bus project
LAHORE: Shunila Ruth, a female lawmaker of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), on Monday demanded a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe the incident of Sajid Masih’s fall from the fourth floor of the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) building in Lahore while in the agency’s custody.
According to the details, Ruth severely criticised the way of interrogation conducted by the state institution in the case of Sajid Masih, who in his video message alleged that officials of the FIA cybercrime wing had asked him to “have sex” with his cousin Patras Masih – the main accused of the blasphemy case – who was arrested by the police under Section 295-C and later handed over to the FIA for further interrogation.
“The FIA officials interrogated Sajid in a very inhumane way that is highly condemnable and there is a sense of extreme fear prevailing among the whole Christian community,” Ruth said while speaking on a point of order during the 34th ongoing session of the Punjab Assembly. She also gave Pakistan Today’s reference while addressing the House, as the news of the incident was first broken by this newspaper.
Ruth added that Sajid Masih was currently admitted to the Mayo Hospital, but was not getting proper treatment and therefore the issue demanded prompt attention of the concerned authorities to save his life. “A JIT should be constituted immediately and Sajid must be taken into protective custody as his life is in danger keeping in view the glaring revelations he has made in the video message,” she added.
Deputy Speaker Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani, who was chairing the session, remarked that it was not right to criticise institutions and gave the floor to Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu.
The minister said that he was being updated regarding Sajid on a regular basis and the latter was getting the best treatment at the hospital.
“The chief minister took notice of the issue and also constituted a committee of some leading religious scholars to keenly study the case of both Patras and Sajid,” Sandhu said while adding that he would himself go to the hospital after the session to inquire about Sajid’s health.
Speaking to Pakistan Today, Ruth said that she had also submitted an adjournment motion in the assembly regarding the issue.
“Both Patras and Sajid are just accused till now as the allegations leveled on them are yet to be proved, but the way the FIA treated them during interrogation is highly regrettable and I request the chief justice of Pakistan to take a suo motu notice of the case,” she said.
Earlier in the day, provincial ministers Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman and Amanatullah Khan Shadikhel responded to the lawmakers’ queries related to the excise and taxation, and irrigation departments during the question hour.
The treasury failed to address the agenda items on the second consecutive day due to the protest of opposition over the issue of the Multan Metro Bus project and the speaker had to adjourn the session till Wednesday morning.