LAHORE - Newly-appointed Punjab Law Minister Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan Saturday said that serious security threats faced Dr Tahirul Qadri and his supporters and government had decided to adopt every measure and go to any extent to save lives and property of the people including the PAT men.
Addressing media, the law minister said that given the situation emerged after military operation against the terrorists the whole Pakistani nation was exposed to open threats. He said according to the information received from various agencies, serious threats to the life of Dr Qadri were there and the government and the relevant institutions after holding meeting, had informed the authorities of Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in this behalf. He referred to Sanha Karsar wherein Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had lost her life in a terrorist activity when she was already intimated about the threats by then authorities. The law minister also appealed to the nation that instead of following those who were out to derail democracy, they should stand behind the armed forces which were risking their lives countering terrorists in order to save the life of the nation.
“The government is not only facing the challenges of terrorism but of the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and time direly needs the nation to pray for the success of military operation against Taliban and the politicians to get united to convey to the world that we are determined to eliminate terrorism”.
He said at the moment the whole nation and the institutions are on the same page on eliminating terrorists.
To a question, the minister said Dr Qadri had passed a fatwa against Taliban activity as such he was under more threat than anyone else. When asked if way of Qadri to city would be checked, he said we would pursue every course which would be permissible under law and the Constitution to protect the citizens being the prime responsibility of the government. He said Section 144 of the CrPC was imposed at The Mall Lahore to restrict rallies and processions. However, he said, no decision would be taken without consultation and taking the nation into confidence.
He said it was not time to do politics but to act for the security of the country and the nation.
He said at the time when the PML-N government was addressing all problems of the country and putting things on the right track some elements were out to derail democracy and throw the country into chaos. He asked when Punjab government had done nothing except doing good to the people, why it was being punished through the politics of dharna and agitation.