Shah condemns racial profiling of Pukhtoons in Punjab

ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah on Tuesday condemned Punjab government’s treatment of Pukhtoons, saying they are being singled out and a campaign against them is under way in the province.

Speaking to media in the Parliament house, Shah said that targeting a single ethnicity will increase terrorism instead of reducing it, stressing that Pukhtoons are patriotic too.

He also said a police officer distributed pamphlets against the Pukhtoon people. Shah called upon the prime minister to take notice of the issue.

“No operation was carried out when the issue of Punjabi Taliban was raised. In fact, they were given patronage,” he said.

Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif, amid criticism from all sections of the society, reiterated in a meeting, that he considers Pukhtoons as brothers. He condemned what he called “propaganda” regarding the issue saying it is of no service to Pakistan.

In the meeting, attended by adviser to the prime minister Ameer Muqam and a delegation from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the chief minister said that people from all ethnicities live in Punjab and that “they are our brothers”.

“Just because the facilitator of Lahore bombing belonged to Bajaur doesn’t mean all Pukhtoons are terrorists,” he said.