Senators assail Punjab govt over trainees’ killings

ISLAMABAD – Strongly criticising the PML-N-led Punjab government’s indifferent attitude over the killing of nine trainee Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prison department officials in the heart of Punjab capital, the coalition partners of the government- ANP and PML-Q - and JUI-F from opposition side Thursday staged a walkout from the Senate.
The lawmakers assailed the Punjab government for what they said it failed to provide proper security to the prison department officials belonging to KP. However, some voices came from Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz that provincialism should not be promoted on the basis of a terrorist act as the same was happening in other parts of the federating units. PML-N also assured the House that action would be taken against the culprits and the other responsible ones for this unfortunate incident in which nine police officials were killed and a number of others injured as a result of indiscriminate firing of terrorists.
Senator Zahid Khan of Awami National Party (ANP) was the first who raised the voice on a point of order and said that conspiracies were being hatched against the Pashtuns and killing of KP prison police officials in Lahore was the utter negligence of the Punjab government. He said that they were kept at a place where they were provided no security. He said all the trainees of KP would be called back as a protest from Punjab and demanded suspension of IG Punjab Prisons. He threatened that they would not come in the House until Punjab government would take action against the responsible. 
Haji Ghulam Ali of JUI-F launched an aggressive attack against the Punjab government and said that provincialism was being promoted.
Before the PML-Q joined the walkout of two other parties, Senator Kamal Ali Agha of the party said no security was in place where these officials had been provided residence and this was the clear proof of negligence on part of the Punjab government.
Senator Tahir Hussain Mushhadi, endorsing the viewpoint of other lawmakers, said it was the laxity on part of the provincial government which did not provide them security.
Senator Mian Raza Rabbani of the ruling PPP terming it a broader conspiracy of international forces to split Pakistan into pieces said federation was facing tough times. “Time has come that all political parties should join hands to defeat these nefarious designs and threats to national security must be foiled,” he added. He said there was national security crisis in the country.
A number of legislators of PML-N rose from their seats to defend their party- the ruling party in Punjab. Ishaq Dar, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate assured the House that government of Punjab would take every possible action against who so ever would be responsible f this incident and a thorough investigation would be launched soon.
He condemned the incident in all possible terms but objected over the way, walkout was held against the Punjab government saying it would be tantamount to promote provincialism as other parts of the country were also affected by the same kind of incidents. Senator Pervez Rashid and Zafar Ali Shah endorsed the viewpoint of their party colleague before the House was adjourned to meet again at 10 am till Friday.

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