Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah on Wednesday expressed anger over Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif's clapping at a press conference after arresting minor Zainab's murderer. Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly, Shah asked whether clapping over this heinous crime is justified. He said that the Parliament should condemn the clapping. He said that the chief minister should apologize and admit his mistake in this regard.
He said that it was embarrassing the way the government of Punjab officials were clapping and exchanging compliments while announcing arrest of the culprit. "Watching officials cheering for making an arrest in rape and murder case of a minor was embarrassing," he remarked. Criticising the applause, Shah said that over 60 cases of child abuse were reported in Kasur in 2016 and thousands of similar incidents happened across the Punjab. Dozens of suspects were arrested but not a single one was punished, he pointed out.
When such incidents happen in the world, no one applauds and claps while announcing the apprehension of the criminals, the opposition leader explained. "You should be ashamed of clapping after apprehending the culprit," he remarked. He suggested that a resolution should be moved in the House to condemn the Punjab government's action, adding that Shahbaz's actions have hurt the nation's sentiments, adding that he should apologise over the matter.
He said that no one celebrates and claps over the rape and murder of an innocent girl as Shehbaz did at the press conference. Shah maintained that right to express views in the House should be given to every parliamentarian. He said that the Speaker doesn't have the right to forbid anyone from speaking.