ISLAMABAD – Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Thursday criticised Interior Minister Rehman Malik for using the term “Punjabi Taliban” in the federal cabinet meeting, saying such statements could fan provincialism. He was talking to media outside the home of slain Shahbaz Bhatti where he condoled with the aggrieved family.
He said that terrorism was a national issue but some elements were trying to politicise the condemnable act of murder of Minorities Minister Shahbaz Bhatti. Shahbaz Sharif said that Punjab government would extend all sorts of cooperation to federal government into investigations of Bhatti’s murder. “Will the assassins be called Sindhi Taliban if the people are killed in Karachi?” he asked.
The CM warned Malik to avoid making controversial statements that could lead to anarchy and misunderstanding among the people belonging to different provinces and sects. “Such controversial statements could lead to hatred and sense of disgrace therefore one should be careful about terming people of any province involved in terrorism and extremism.”
Shahbaz said being citizens of Pakistan, “we all are equally responsible to look into the issues confronting the country’s stability and no single party or political leader could be held responsible in this regard.” He added that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz strongly condemned the brutal murder of Shahbaz Bhatti as it had tarnished Pakistan’s image in the international community.
Comments are closed.