Nawaz Sharif... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
on Wednesday talked tough on Muharram 10 violence in Rawalpindi that killed a dozen people and injured more than 50, charging the law enforcement agencies with 'criminal inaction' over 'unacceptable crimes'.
"Speech inciting hatred, firing, torching properties, stone pelting and killing innocent people are unacceptable crimes. Criminal silence of administration as well as police on the propagation of sectarian hatred through loudspeakers and graffiti cannot be tolerated," Nawaz told a meeting called at the Prime Minister's House to review post-violence situation. He ordered an immediate ban on wall chalking as well as use of loud speakers for hate speech in the country.
The prime minister said what happened in Rawalpindi was 'criminal negligence' and law enforcement agencies should not have shown such slackness. "Police should have taken pre-emptive action to avert the incident," he said.
The prime minister made it clear that any one-sided action by the administration would not be tolerated. He directed police to fix responsibility by holding a fair and neutral investigation into the Rawalpindi incident. "Hate speeches and killing people are equally criminal. I want strict action against those who have no regard for law and order," he told the meeting.
The prime minister also came hard on social media and accused it of playing 'negative role' during the festivities. He directed the authorities concerned to prepare a draft cyber law to tackle such matters 'within days'.
Punjab Inspector General of Police Khan Baig admitted the failure of local police authorities as he briefed the meeting over the Rawalpindi incident. The IGP said the deadly violence had claimed lives of at least 11 people besides injuries to 56 others. "All deaths resulted due to use of firearms," the IGP said, as he rejected claims that several people were missing after the incident.
Baig said police had placed in durance vile
Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un!
nine 'perpetrators' of the incident. He said the arrests were made after their identification with the help of CCTV as well as video footages obtained from media organizations.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Punjab Law Law Rana Sanaullah, DG ISI Lt Gen Zaheer-ul-Islam, DG IB Aftab Sultan attended.s]