ISLAMABAD - Reacting to the killings of Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s (PAT) workers in Lahore, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Tuesday demanded resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah, besides removal of the provincial police chief.
The PTI chief while addressing a press conference at his Bani Gala residence severely criticised Punjab police’s use of violence against the workers of PAT and termed it a fascist action never seen before. “First of all the chief minister Punjab should resign on the incident, then Law Minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah, who also holds the portfolio of home minister of the province, should also resign and inspector general of police Punjab should not only be removed but also sent behind the bars,” said Imran while putting his demands before media.
The PTI also rejected the Punjab government’s proposal to form a judicial commission on the incident, as PTI Vice Chairman MNA Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who was accompanying Imran, said that this was move of the government to get a clean chit. “Have you ever seen any report of such commission in the past?” Qureshi questioned.
The PTI chief coming down hard on the ruling party said Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Sharif brothers do not care about democracy when ever they are in the government and care for it only when they are in opposition. “All was done to create fear but the move backfired,” he added.
“Punjab police are being misused everywhere against the opponents and that has damaged the reputation of the force,” the PTI chief said. He said that Punjab police were fully involved in 2013 general election rigging. He pointed out that barriers around the residence of Tahirul Qadri and Minhajul Quran Secretariat were erected under the order of the court.
“I will myself visit Lahore tomorrow and we will hold meetings there and contact other political parties to further make action plan on the issue,” he said, adding that the incident had reminded the use of police force against people during Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit to Lahore in 1999.  Former IGP Abbas Khan had submitted a report to LHC on the court’s question why Punjab police were not performing well, saying 25,000 police officials had been recruited in the force out of merit in the government of Nawaz Sharif in 1992.
Responding to a question, Imran said that it should be noticed for how long these barriers were erected, as these were not in place one day before and why action had been taken now. He questioned whether such barriers were not in place in other areas including Raiwind, the residence of Sharif brothers.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said this was a well thought out plan, saying the PML-N made the atmosphere violence-hit and the spirit of democracy had been murdered.
Imran said that last one year performance of the government showed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had failed to deliver as a leader. “There has been no prime minister whose foreign tours’ expenditure is Rs 4.3 million a day. The expenditure of PM House is Rs 2.1 million a day while the prime minister spent Rs 25 million from public money to rectify his personal loans,” he said.

Rigging in elections:

“We have released an audiotape after Hafizabad by-elections in which a district police officer (DPO) is asking for votes in the name of Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza Shahbaz but no action has been taken,” he said. He said that all parties are crying for rigging in elections but the government has taken no action. “For the same reason, we are asking to open election results of four constituencies for scrutiny,” Khan remarked.

North Waziristan Operation:

Imran announced that accepting the request of PM to get united on the military operation, the PTI has postponed its grand rally of June 22 in Bahawalpur. He added that the rally would now be held on June 27. He said that the PM even did not get the nation united on NWA military operation as he himself got the information from TV. “Even ISPR issued the statement instead of the government,” he said.
He informed media persons that CM KP Pervez Khattak had been briefed in a meeting to deal with the IDPs issue and all efforts would be made in this regard. He said that KP CM was also unaware about the launch of military operations and now he was facing burden of all IDPs.
Responding to a question, Imran said that people were thronging PTI rallies because people are disappointed from the rulers and want change.
Qureshi said that PTI had cancelled its today’s (Wednesday) meeting with the leader of the opposition in National Assembly on electoral reforms because party top leader are going to Lahore.