Ruckus in Punjab Assembly over Sahiwal incident

LAHORE (92 News) – The opposition in the Punjab Assembly staged a strong protest against the Punjab government for not presenting a joint investigation team (JIT) report on the Sahiwal incident in the house for discussion. The members of the opposition tore copies of today’s agenda of the assembly and gathered in front of the speaker’s dais in protest against the government’s declining their request to suspend the assembly proceedings to hold discussion on the Sahiwal JIT report. The opposition demanded to debate on the matter of Sahiwal incident in the house and Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat said the Sahiwal incident was not part of the agenda as the provincial legislature’s proceedings would continue as per rules. The law minister dismissing the demand of judicial commission in Sahiwal tragedy on Monday urged the opposition in the Punjab Assembly to wait for the JIT report. “In the light of the report both leaders of the House and Opposition will sit together and ascertain penalties for responsible of the tragedy,” he added. Speaking on the floor of the House in response to opposition’s hue and cry over the gruesome Sahiwal happening, the minister suggested in-camera session tomorrow for debate on the incident. Earlier on Tuesday, the minister termed the Sahiwal encounter ‘100 percent right’ and said the initial investigation report by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) had held the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) officials responsible for the loss of innocent lives in Sahiwal. The provincial law minister said that in light of the JIT report, Additional IGP of the CTD and the DIG Sahiwal were immediately being removed from their posts, while DIG and the SSP of CTD had been suspended. He said five officers of the CTD would be produced before an anti-terrorism court and have been charged under Section 302 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).