LAHORE – Former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer’s assassination remained the topic of discussion during the Punjab Assembly (PA) session on Friday, as statements of both Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ministers and members of the provincial assembly (MPA) reflected a difference of opinion between both the parties.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah rejected the PPP’s allegations that the PML-N has influenced investigations of Taseer’s killing. On a point of order during the ongoing 22nd PA session, which started around one hour and 15 minute late from schedule, the law minister said that the PML-N has repeatedly condemned Taseer’s assassination and the federal government should answer about security lapses in the governor’s protocol.
He said that it was a fact that Taseer was a political worker and had done a good job for his party but this would not be fair to link his killing with any political force while terming it as a ‘political murder’, Sanaullah said adding that the Punjab governor was targeted in Islamabad. He said that the PML-N always had a difference with the governor over his political statements and that is why the PML-N had repeatedly asked Taseer to work like a provincial governor not as a political party worker. The law minister termed the slain governor as a strong political worker and said that Taseer was a brave and outspoken man and his case is now left with God. Sanaullah said that the whole House had prayed for his departed soul and expressed sympathies with the governor’s family. He rejected all charges against the PML-N and terming Taseer’s killing as political.
Sanaullah said that the PML-N always demanded an impartial inquiry to probe into the matter and the Punjab CM had also constituted a special team for investigation in this regard. The law minister informed the House that Taseer’s assassin Mumtaz Qadri was sent to the Special Branch from Punjab Constabulary on August 5, 2004 and after scrutiny, there were eleven security officials including Qadri who were declared unfit for handling VIP security. He said that in May 2007, Qadri was selected for the Elite Force after training and served the force until the governor’s killing.
Sanaullah said that the issue is being probed that if Qadir had been declared incapable for VIP security then why he remained a part of VIP security since 2007. The special committee is probing into the matter to find out negligence committed in connection with his induction in the security team, he said.
The law minister said that when the Islamabad Police inspector general and other security forces knew that the governor was visiting Islamabad then why they could not ensure proper security for him in light of information provided to them through an official letter about the visit. On the House floor, he said, “I will request Punjab Senior Minister Raja Riaz not to blame the PML-N but focus on issue of the prevailing culture of intolerance and playing with law”. Riaz replied that the PPP never directly blamed the PML-N for the governor’s killing but said that some elements backed the conspiracy for Taseer’s assassination. He pointed out that whenever the Punjab CM visited Islamabad, he was always provided security by the Punjab Police.
The senior minister said that why the Punjab government did not provide security to Taseer adding that questions arose that why timely action was not taken against Qadri and how he did his act in a very relaxed mood. Earlier, on a point of order, Riaz expressed grief and sorrow over Taseer’s killing and said that it was a serious shock to the party. While paying glowing tributes to the governor, he said that the gap created by his killing would never be filled.
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) MPA Dr Samia Amjad, speaking on behalf of her party, said that whatever was the reason behind the governor’s killing, it should be brought out in “black and white”. She said that who so ever is responsible for the killing should be brought to task.
Talking about her party stance over blasphemy law, she made it clear that no amendment would be tolerated, as the PML-Q strongly believes that no one had the right to make amendments in the defined law and if one committed blasphemy then he deserved no mercy. PA deputy speaker Rana Mashood, expressing grief and sorrow over Taseer’s assassination, said that the Punjab governor was the constitutional head of the province and his killing is really a condemnable act. He expressed his sympathies with the governor’s family while the House also offered special prayer for Taseer’s departed soul. The House’s agenda was suspended after memorial references by Riaz and Sanaullah and the chair adjourned the session until Monday afternoon.
I will request Punjab Senior Minister Raja Riaz not to blame the PML-N but focus on issue of the prevailing culture of intolerance and playing with law
Rana Sanaullah
