Succumbing to the rising pressure from political opponents following the incident in Model Town which left at least 13 PAT workers dead and several others injured, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif sought resignation from provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and the latter complied. While announcing the decision, the CM failed to mention exactly why Mr Sanaullah had to be removed. The CM is aware of the aggrieved party’s claim that the Police acted on direct orders from the PML-N leadership. By failing to cite reasons, the government has left its decision open for interpretation. Is it to ensure impartial investigations? Is it punishment for the concerned minister’s failure to control the situation which only qualifies as negligence? Or does it suggest complicity on the part of the minister who may have given direct orders which led to the deaths of PAT workers?
So far, the CM’s defence has been that of complete ignorance of all that transpired between the PAT and Police in Model Town. Understandable, as between severe incompetence and criminal complicity in murder, the former presents itself as the safer option. There is not much the government can possibly do other than holding the culprits accountable, which it must at all costs no matter what the resulting implications. But, the problem is that resolution of matters is not in PAT’s political interest. The PML-N’s loss is their gain. Mr Tahir-ul-Qadri has rejected the judicial commission set up to investigate the incident and he doesn’t appear willing to accept anything short of resignation from both the Prime Minister and the Punjab CM. Lack of faith in institutions entrusted with this responsibility is not without reason. However, the facts cannot be ascertained through agitation on streets and sit-ins. By leaving the government with no option to proceed while holding them directly responsible for murder, Mr Qadri is setting the ground for the ‘revolution’ he promises his many supporters.
The real tragedy is this: the PML-N and Mr Qadri both stand in the way of justice for victims. While the Punjab government and the Police are concerned about self-preservation, Mr Qadri is more than willing to be the man who couldn’t get justice for his slain workers in corrupt Pakistan. It is in his interest that the situation remains tense, to be escalated further when the time is right. The people need to draw a distinction between those who were killed and the ‘leaders’ they died for. The two are not the same.