While addressing a news conference in Lahore on Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requested Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial to form a full court commission to investigate the firing incident of PTI’s long march in Wazirabad which resulted in the death of one person and injuries to some others including PTI’s Chairman Imran Khan, who is currently under treatment at Shaukat Khanum Hospital.
This is a welcome and brilliant decision on the part of the PM and we expect that the honourable CJP will accede to it given the fact that the PTI Chairman has accused not only the PM and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah of the firing incident but also a senior army officer.
If a fair and transparent inquiry is not conducted and facts are not brought before the public, the other side will continue using the incident for political capital and defame a respectable institution like Pakistan Army.
It is really unfortunate that our security personnel, be it the soldiers or the top-ranking officers, have rendered and are still rendering sacrifices for the sake of this country but there are certain elements who are targeting them for their petty political interests.
No matter what this nation has always regarded and held at high esteem their forces and nobody can come in between them.
The smear campaign on social media by a handful of elements does not at all represent the aspirations of the nation.
Since the people also trust the top judiciary, we believe their investigation into the incident will go a long way in putting to rest the current chaos.
Whilst PM Shehbaz Sharif has shown his sincerity of purpose to also appear before this judicial commission, the PTI leadership should also have no objection to it as on the issue of Cipher it used to demand formation of such a commission.
Then, the PTI Chairman should also appear before the Commission and present the evidence, if he has, in support of his allegations.
Given the multiple challenges which have been compounded by recent devastating floods, the country cannot afford instability and anarchy.
President Arif Alvi has once again offered to mediate amongst stakeholders for developing consensus on major issues.
It is still time for our political leadership to demonstrate maturity and sit together to find solutions to issues as suggested by President Alvi within the confines of democratic means of discussion and consultation.
