Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed annoyance over incompetence and criminal negligence of police during the Rawalpindi violence and issued directives to the authorities to conduct a fair and neutral investigation into the incident. The Prime Minister issued these while presiding over a meeting on law and order.
"The criminal negligence and silence on the part of administration and police on the occasion of Rawalpindi tragedy and the propagation of sectarian hatred through loud-speakers and wall-chalking would not be tolerated," the Prime Minister said. Prime Minister issued directives to take strict action against those who have no regards for law and order and fix responsibility on police for criminal negligence. The premier also expressed displeasure over the negative role played by the social media during the tragic incident and directed the concerned authorities to present the draft Cyber Law within days.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Khan Baig gave a detailed briefing regarding the incident. The IGP admitted the failure of police during the incident, wherein 11 persons were killed and 56 injured. All deaths resulted due to fire arms. He refuted claims from some quarters about missing persons in the tragic incident, he said. He further said that nine people involved in killings and arson have been apprehended after their identification with the help of video footage obtained from media organisations.
Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Minister for Information Senator Pervez Rashid, Chief Minister Punjab Mr Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed, Minister for Law, Government of Punjab Rana Sanaullah, DG ISI Lieutenant General Zaheer-ul-Islam, DG IB Aftab Sultan and other senior official attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, the law enforcement agencies have taken into custody 49 suspects during different raids in various parts of Rawalpindi. Police sources said that police investigators have succeeded in identifying nine suspects with the help of media and CCTV footage involved in Rawalpindi incident. Those who were arrested and confessed the crime were identified as Munawar and his sons Nayyar and Tayyab. Father and his two sons were arrested from Westrige Area of police station, police source said.
They said that the majority of attackers belonged to other cities, including Parachinar and Gilgit-Baltistan. So far, police have taken into custody 49 people from Perwadai, 10 from Chohar Chowk, three from Westrige, two from Nasirabad, three from Sadiqabad and two police personnel including Abid and Shamim.
On the other hand, the Punjab government has transferred high-ranking police officers of Rawalpindi for showing sheer negligence during security duty of Ashura procession on 10 Moharram. The provincial government issued a notification of transfers and postings of officers, including Rawalpindi Regional Police Officer (RPO), City Police Officer (CPO), Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) security and SSP operation. According to the notification RPO Zaeem Iqbal Sheikh, CPO Bilal Siddique Kamiyana, SSP security Dar Ali Khattak, SSP operation Sikandar Hayat have been transferred and made Officers on Special Duty till further orders.
The government also transferred Superintendent of Police (SP) CIA Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif and appointed him as SP Rawal Division, whereas SP Syed Jamat Ali Shah Bukhari has been appointed as SP CIA. Akhtar Umar Hayat Lalika, RPO DG Khan, has been transferred and posted as RPO Rawalpindi.