Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Thursday called for the constitution of a joint investigation team (JIT) to hold a reliable and transparent probe into the gun attack on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan during the long march. Rana Sanaullah and Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb held a joint press conference after the gun attack on PTI chief Imran Khan during the long march. The interior minister strongly condemned and expressed deep sorrow over the firing incident in which Imran Khan got injured. He said in politics, response to political opponents is given through speeches and press conferences. “We believe in tolerance and respect. Unfortunately, the politics of maligning opponents started a few years ago. We are political people and condemn violence in politics. PML-N has also become a victim of those people who believe in violence.” Sanaullah said that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif and the whole leadership of the ruling political party expressed sorrow over the gun attack on Imran Khan. The interior minister praised the bravery of the PTI worker who caught the attacker. He said that police took the suspected attacker in custody who was captured by the PTI worker. He said that the federal authorities sought a report from the Punjab chief secretary and Inspector-General (IG) Punjab police into the firing incident. “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif orders the Punjab government to immediately submit the probe report.” “A JIT should be constituted to keep the investigation process reliable and transparent. Punjab government is given assurance of full coordination to investigate the incident. We have also requested the Punjab government to form a JIT.” Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Thursday advised the masses and media to avoid speculations and giving irresponsible statements in the wake of the incident aimed at Imran Khan during his long march, which reached Wazirabad, at the time of such a “sad” incident. Addressing a news conference, she strongly condemned the firing at Imran Khan and other PTI leaders, praying for their swift recovery. “Pakistan cannot afford such incidents and it is imperative that the political arena should not be turned into a bloody one,” she said, while calling for the collective efforts which were crucial to change such behaviours. Marriyum advised the media to avoid speculation and airing irresponsible statements on the incident until the facts or a preliminary report was shared by the Punjab government and police. She said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah to seek a preliminary report from the Inspector General and Chief Secretary Punjab and extend all-out support to the provincial government in this regard. The minister said the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of Punjab, so the provincial police, as well as the administration and other relevant departments, should share the facts with the masses immediately after its investigation. Marriyum said the accused had been arrested and his statement was being recorded in Gujrat Police Station. He had confessed that he had fired at Imran Khan for certain reasons which were being aired on the media.
