PML-N demands resignation of PM, CM Punjab over Sahiwal killings

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) has demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar over the Sahiwal killings.

The demand was made by PML-N leader Rana Sanullah speaking to reporters outside the National Assembly on Wednesday. Sanaullah said the PM and CM should resign and appear before an impartial Joint Investigation Team (JIT). “If they are found to be innocent, they can return to their posts,” he said.

Sanuallah said the JIT report was to mislead people and was a drama which should be rejected. The PML-N lawmaker claimed the government had made false statements about terrorists fleeing, recovery of suicide jackets and ammunition. “This stance of the ministers was an attempt to save the accused. They should now apologise to the nation,” Sanaullah asserted.

Sanuallah further said the government for the last three days had been trying to make a connection between the driver of the car Zeeshan and terrorists but had been unable to do so.

PML-N leader Rana Tanveer said the Sahiwal incident had created fear in people, adding that some officials were being made the scapegoat. “Several questions remain to be answered,” Tanveer said.

On January 19, four people — including three members of a family — were killed in an alleged encounter in Sahiwal. Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) personnel said they had killed a local commander of militant organisation Daesh and three others in the operation. Eyewitnesses, however, disputed the claim and said the people in the car did not fire at officials, nor were any explosives recovered from the vehicle.

The dead included a man, his wife, their teenage daughter and the driver identified as Zeeshan.

The initial JIT report, which was submitted to Punjab chief minister on Tuesday, stated that three officials of the CTD including the head have been transferred while two officers have been suspended. Those involved in the killings would be tried by an anti-terrorism court, the report stated.

It also mentioned negligence on part of the CTD officials and said there was no link between the Khalil family killed in the incident and terrorism.

The also sought more time to probe Zeeshan, the man who was driving the vehicle.