Daily Times

Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday assured the nation that after his return from Qatar, he would ensure exemplary punishment to the guilty in the Sahiwal shooting incident.

On his Twitter account, the Prime Minister vowed to review and initiate reform process over the entire structure of Punjab police. “The grief & anger of the ppl (people) of Pak (Pakistan) on Sahiwal incident is understandable & justified. I assure the nation that when I return from Qatar, not only will the guilty be given exemplary punishment, but I will review the entire structure of Punjab police & start process of reforming it,” he said.

The incident is being probed by a joint investigation team (JIT) which is in Sahiwal to examine the crime scene. The JIT will also interrogate eyewitnesses and local police as well as the CTD officials involved in the incident. Video footage of the incident, statements of the surviving children and initial statements by the CTD officials will also be included in the investigation. The JIT will present its report to the Punjab chief minister on Tuesday. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar said he will receive the JIT’s preliminary report into the incident on Tuesday when the 72-hour time period given to the probe team ends at 5pm. He advised the media against assigning the blame on anyone until the report is released. “Do not say anything to anyone until 72 hours [have ended] … wait for the report,” he told reporters outside Punjab Assembly.

He assured the nation that they will see a ‘clear difference’ between how the JIT report is acted upon in ‘Naya Pakistan’.

Published in Daily Times, January 22^nd 2019.