LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited the residence of Zainab in Kasur in the wee hours of Thursday and met with her father and other family members.
He expressed his heartfelt condolences with the bereaved family.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that he found no words to condemn the incident. He vowed not to sit idle till the provision of justice to the victim family.
“We will ensure justice and it will be felt clearly. This atrocious incident is a matter of concern for all of us and I am duty-bound to ensure that justice should be dissipated immediately.”
The chief minister said that the criminal who had committed this horrific act would not escape exemplary punishment.
“Every eye is tearful on this abhorrent incident. Punjab government fully sides with your family and every possible support will be provided to you. It is my promise that I will ensure justice to you at every cost,” he added. The chief minister offered Fateha for the departed soul and also consoled the father of late Zainab.
Meanwhile, CM Shehbaz stated that the criminal involved in the rape and murder of Zainab would not escape deterrent punishment. He said he had directed police to arrest the criminal with least possible delay so that the culprit could be punished according to law setting an example for others. He said legal action would also be initiated against police officials involved in firing on protesters without any reason.
The chief minister said that a high-level JIT comprising civil and army officials had been constituted to probe the matter. The elements indulging in acts of brutality with the innocent children were not human but savage and a burden on the soil.
Separately, presiding over a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on law and order here yesterday, the chief minister announced Rs10million bounty for giving any clue of the whereabouts of the killer(s) of Zainab. Initial reports about the tragic Kasur incident were also presented in the meeting, which decided to present challan of Zainab’s murder case within 24 hours. The chief minister said any delay to submit challan in Zainab’s killing case and death of two protesters would not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, Punjab government has announced financial aid for the heirs of two protesters killed due to police firing. Am amount of Rs3 million will be given to the heirs of each victim. Moreover, two people of the victim families will also be given employment. The chief minister said that there was no justification of straight firing by police officials and cruelty had been committed by firing at the unarmed protesters. He inquired where the necessary protective arrangements of the police were. “I had issued necessary directions after holding a meeting yesterday morning but despite that worst negligence has been shown by firing at the unarmed people.”
The chief minister reprimanded the concerned police officials saying that unpleasant situation could have been avoided by making necessary arrangements. He reiterated that every requirement of justice would be fulfilled in this case and directed that CCTVs should be installed in different areas of Kasur immediately and these cameras would be connected with Integrated Command, Control and Communication Centre.
He also asked the head of JIT Abubakar Khuda Bakhsh to stay in Kasur. The Ministers of State Usman Ibrahim and Haji Akram Ansari, Provincial Ministers Rana Sanaullah, Col(R) Ayub Gadhi, Chief Secretary, ACS (Home), IG police and other high-ups attended the meeting while provincial Minister Jehangir Khanzada from Attock, RPO Sheikhpura and DC and DPO Kasur participated the meeting through video link.
OUR STAFF REPORTER
