CM makes SSP and SPO as OSD,suspends DSP and SHO

Lahore, March 09: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that all displaced minority sisters and brothers will be rehabilitated in their homes on war footings and their houses will be repaired completely.

The Chief Minister also announced a judicial inquiry into the incident and said that Punjab government is writing a letter to Chief Justice Lahore High Court in this regard. He said that government will fulfill all its responsibilities regarding this tragic incident and the mischievous elements involved in this incident will be taken to task. He said that legal action will be taken against those persons involved in provocation and animosity and their challans will soon be submitted to anti-terrorism court after registering cases against the responsible persons under Anti-Terrorism Act. The Chief Minister announced that SSP Sohail Sukhera and SP Multan Khan have been immediately made OSDs whereas DSP and SHO of the area have been suspended.

He expressed these views while addressing an emergent press conference after a high level meeting held to review all aspects of the tragic incident of Badami Bagh at Model Town, today. Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Senator Kamran Michael, Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah Khan and MNA Khawaja Saad Rafique were also present on the occasion.

Addressing the press conference, the Chief Minister said that he has no words to condemn such an inhuman incident in Lahore. He said that causing loss to the properties of Christian brethren and torturing them is highly condemnable. He said that Pakistan is the country of every that person who lives here and every person living here is Pakistani irrespective of religion, cost, creed or sect. He said this aspect of the incident is lamentable that criminal action and violence against minority brethren have been taken in the name of Holy Prophet Who has been sent as blessings for the entire humanity.

He said that the person who was accused of the blasphemy had been arrested last night and an FIR has also been registered but despite this, the barbarism demonstrated today has no justification. The Chief Minister said that a common citizen of Pakistan has right to ask the responsible of this incident that what service they have done to Islam by causing loss to the property of innocent citizens and displacing them. Has Holy Prophet (PBUH) given message of such treatment with our minority brethren, he questioned? Shahbaz Sharif said that he has no hesitation to say that the message of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) Who was sent in the world as Rehmat-ul-Lillalameen was insulted.

He said that the process of providing financial assistance of two lakh rupees to each affected family and immediate repair of damaged houses is being started from tonight. He announced that a camp is being set up in the affected area where all affected families will remain till such time their houses are completely repaired.

The Chief Minister said that government will provide meal and water in this relief camp. He said that all the persons involved in this incident are being identified through video footage and their immediate arrest will be ensured at all costs. The Chief Minister said that he has issued orders in this regard while strict action will also be taken against the elements involved in provocation under the law and they will not be spared at all.                                    

He said that a committee headed by Law Minister has been constituted which will submit its report after reviewing the relief activities and progress of the case on daily basis and he himself will review its progress daily. He appealed to the citizens, civil society, intellectuals to fulfill their collective responsibilities with regard to minorities and play their active role for exposing and discouraging these elements. The Chief Minister made an appeal to ulema to come forward and play their role for creating awareness about the minorities’ rights and importance of tolerance in the Islamic society. Replying to the question of a journalist, Shahbaz Sharif said that judicial inquiry of the incident will determine those who showed negligence and whosoever is found involved in this incident will not be spared.

Replying to another question, the Chief Minister said that Pakistan is a country of all of us and protection of life and property of every citizen is the responsibility of the government. He said that the court will decide about the person to whom allegation has been leveled but today’s destruction and ransacking is not justified. He said that there is already negative impression regarding Pakistan abroad, we have no respect in the comity of the nations and this incident is a stigma and futile effort to mar Pakistan. He said that the elements involved in this incident and those who displayed criminal negligence will not escape from iron hand of law. The Chief Minister said with a view to any incident, police evacuated Christian community from the area but, in spite of that, today mischievous elements took this tragic action in which a number of police officers and officials were also injured.

He said that according to the initial report of district administration 150 houses were damaged and a survey is being conducted. However, after survey, final report will come fore but government is starting process of rehabilitation of affectees from tonight. Replying to a question, he said that there should be a collective approach for eradication of such incidents and religious parties and leaders including parliament should think over it.

Earlier, while presiding over a high level meeting for reviewing various aspects of tragic incident of Badami Bagh at Model Town, Shahbaz Sharif said that the mischievous elements involved in this incident will be arrested tonight and awarded deterrent punishment. He said that immediate action will also be taken against the elements involved in provocation. Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister directed the concerned officers to immediately start repair work of the houses set on fire and the process of repair and financial assistance should be started from tonight. He also directed Members Assembly, district administration and police to set up relief camp immediately. He said that this incident is highly lamentable and the people whose houses were burnt will be rehabilitated at all costs. The Chief Minister said that every possible step will be taken for the protection of life and property of the people.

He said that such incidents are intolerable and the persons responsible will not be spared at all. He said that after Gojra tragedy, such tragic incident should not have been occurred. He said that such incidents are not acceptable to any society. Shahbaz Sharif said that the rehabilitation work of the affectees should be carried out on war footings and the rehabilitation of affectees and return to their homes should immediately be ensured. Provincial Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah Khan, Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Senator Kamran Michael, Members Assembly Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, Pervaiz Malik, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, IG Police and other police officials attended the meeting. A briefing was given to the Chief Minister about this incident.